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Top Story

1. Biden Uses Oval Office Address to Explain Decision to Quit 2024 Race, Begins to Shape Legacy

“Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” President Joe Biden on Wednesday will explain in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and to throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

The address offered the public their first chance to hear directly from Biden his rationale for dropping out of the 2024 after weeks of insisting he believed himself to be the best candidate to take on former President Donald Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to the nation’s democracy. It also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history views his one and only term in office.” (AP)

Related

President Biden’s Legacy Has Left a Mark on the Pittsburgh Area. “For decades, local politicians would joke that the Scranton-born Mr. Biden was such a fixture in Western Pennsylvania that he didn’t just represent Delaware.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fox News Proposes Harris-Trump Debate in Pennsylvania. “Fox News has proposed a new September 17 debate to the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, a sign that TV networks see new opportunity amid a chaotic run for the White House and a desire by both sides to skip around the traditions that have been set in place in the past by the Commission on Presidential Debates.” (PoliticsPA)

Trump Pollster Cautions Staff About ‘Harris Honeymoon’. “Tony Fabrizio, a pollster for the Trump campaign, sent a memo to staffers to allay any fears over the so-called “Harris Honeymoon.”” (PoliticsPA)

• Will Harris Sway PA Voters? A Pittsburgh Area Democrat and Republican Each Have a Say. (NPR)
• Pittsburgh-Area Democratic Delegates Ages 20 to 76 Confront Elevated Role, While Republicans Retool For Campaign vs. Harris. (Public Source)

Harris Is Trailing Trump Nationwide, But a Recent Poll Shows Improvement in PA. “Vice President Kamala Harris was polling better than President Joe Biden in the battleground state of Pennsylvania before Biden ended his reelection campaign and Harris became the presumptive nominee.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

RFK Jr. Struggles to Gain Traction Amid Unification on Both Sides. “Far from trying to capitalize on the moment of upheaval, the independent candidate is canceling events.” (POLITICO)

State

2. Democrats’ VP Chatter Turns to Swing State Governors

“As Kamala Harris appears destined to seize the Democratic nomination for president, conversations over her potential running mate are swirling around several key governors who could help boost the ticket’s chances in critical battleground states and lift down-ballot candidates in November.

Swing-state governors such as Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and North Carolina’s Roy Cooper have endorsed Harris’ presidential run and are among those frequently discussed as possible VP contenders. Neither have ruled out joining a Harris ticket.

Their states are key battlegrounds in the fall, and Pennsylvania in particular has the power to sway the outcome of the presidential race.” (USA Today)

Related

Does Having Shapiro on the Democratic Ticket Make a Difference in Who Wins PA? “Whether Gov. Josh Shapiro wins the veepstakes or not, Democratic lawmakers and officials expressed confidence that Pennsylvania will deliver a victory in the Nov. 5 presidential election for their party’s standard bearer Kamala Harris.” (PennLive)

PA Lt. Gov. Austin Davis Says He’s Ready to Step Up If Josh Shapiro Becomes Vice President. “Davis is prepared to take over whenever he may be asked, he said at a news conference Wednesday in Lancaster.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Rep. Susan Wild, House Democrats Launch IVF Discharge Petition. “After stealing the Republican Party’s momentum coming out of its convention in Milwaukee with the ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris to the position of presumptive nominee, Democrats are going to the playbook once again.” (PoliticsPA)

DLCC Pours $500,000 Into Pennsylvania. “The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced a $500,000 investment to help Democrats protect their majority in the Pennsylvania House.” (PoliticsPA)

McCormick Campaign Vows to ‘Aggressively’ Link Casey to Harris Through Election Day. “With Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign just days old, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick is launching a “massive campaign” in Pennsylvania tying her and Sen. Bob Casey together on “radical liberal policies.”” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA Supreme Court to Hear Appeal Over Provisional Ballots in Narrow Luzerne County House Race

“The case is one of three before the court involving the race in the 117th Legislative District as incumbent state Rep. Mike Cabell and challenger Jamie Walsh, who has already declared victory, fight to mop up any uncounted votes.

At issue in the appeal granted Wednesday is whether two provisional ballots – one submitted lacking a signature and the other cast by a voter who recently moved to another county – should be counted.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Related

Candidate for PA Treasurer Says She Doesn’t Want Shapiro For Harris’ VP, Breaking From Party Members’ Endorsements. “Erin McClelland, a Democrat from Western Pennsylvania, alluded to criticisms of Shapiro over his handling of a sexual harassment scandal, and said she prefers North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper for the role.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Democracy or Constitutional Republic: Which is It in America? “Mercyhurst University professor and political science department chair Joseph Morris views a particular course as the most important he teaches. His Introduction to American Government class is an option for all students working to complete the liberal arts core curriculum.” (Erie Times-News)

Butler County DA Disputes Testimony That Officers Left Posts to Look For Trump Rally Shooter. “Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger insisted in a statement that the officers didn’t abandon their posts inside the AGR building. He called Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris’ assertion “misinformation.” “To say that these officers left their post is a misstatement,” Goldinger wrote. “They performed the duties to which they were assigned.”” (Tribune-Review)

Candidate Spotlight Series: John George. “George is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in district 37, covering parts of Lancaster County, including Lititz, Manheim, and Clay Township. He is a registered Democrat who recently retired from the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units where he served as the Executive Director.” (Broad + Liberty)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Trump Shooter’s History Underscores the Need For More Mental Health Resources in Schools. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Our City Shouldn’t Be Bound By The Previous Governor’s Private Promise. (Ruth Ann Dailey)
• JD Vance Can Change Pennsylvania’s Vote. (Dave Galluch)
• JD Vance Has a Bunch of Weird Views on Gender. (Laura K. Field)
• If Vice President Harris Picks Gov. Shapiro As Her Running Mate, Monumental Changes Could Come to Pennsylvania. (Joyce Davis)
• Gov. Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope, Despite Him. (Charles Mitchell)
• Generation Z Needs School Choice. (Steven Robertson and Rep. Joe D’Orsie)
• With Biden Out, Kamala Harris Can Make History With Her Own VP Pick. (Tom Allon)

1 Thing

5. Should You Wait To Go Swimming After Eating?

“Picture it: you’re 10 years old, you’ve just absolutely smashed the hotel breakfast buffet, and now you’re ready for a day of larking about in the pool. But wait – your parents say you have to wait before you can go swimming (boooo).

Why? None of their answers seem very believable and it turns out there’s a good reason for that.” (IFL Science)

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