Pennsylvania’s political junkies are well aware that we’re just five days away from the annual Pennsylvania Society weekend in New York City, and rest assured that PoliticsPA will be in attendance, relaying the inside chatter. Last year, Hardball host Chris Matthews was the hot topic as he mulled a run for U.S. Senate. That talk was quickly dampened, though, when he neither showed in New York nor decided to run, after all.
This year, fundraising will be key for statewide aspirants, as the packed field of gubernatorial candidates (particularly the Democrats) angle with big-money donors at the Waldorf and surrounding parties. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Tom Infield has a great break down of the candidates’ fundraising operations in today’s paper. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, believed to hold a strong financial advantage over his primary opponents (excluding millionaire Tom Knox), is having the most success within his party, while Tom Corbett continues to hold a clear advantage in the GOP primary. Rendell, who is publicly neutral in the race, has indicated a preference for Onorato, who is scheduled to appear at a Thursday-night event honoring the governor in Manhattan.
This is the week we can finally end the Lou Barletta drama: Will he or won’t he run for Congress? The Hazleton mayor plans to publicly declare his decision on Wednesday, and opinion is split among local politicos on whether he’ll challenge U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski for a third time. Of course, he has to face Republican Christopher Paige first, not to mention retire about $250,000 in campaign debt from last year’s contest.
EXTRA – We cant help but send you back to Philadelphia Magazine editor Larry Platt’s piece in GQ about his a aborted run for Congress in the 6th District. Why? A great recollection of his experience at the 2007 Pennsylvania Society festivities.
Tags: Weekly Primer
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