Tom Corbett.  The Keystone State’s colleges, especially Penn State, are winning the PR battle in the wake of Governor Corbett’s budget outline last week. A new poll shows 78% think his cuts to local schools are too deep. And Republicans in Harrisburg are starting to back away.

Judy Schwank. Few candidates have the good fortune to be impervious to negative campaign ads. Schwank started the special election campaign as one of Berks County’s most well-liked public figures. She maintains that distinction as she prepares to take the oath of office in April as PA’s newest state senator.

PA Democrats. Fine, we get it, the 11th is a strong district for Dems. That’s why the PA GOP isn’t getting a ‘down’ this week. but the fact is, Democrats had a good win in a contested election. The fundraising was there, the messaging was there, their base is stirred up, and their ground game is back. (Plus they just upgraded their website).

Marcellus Shale industry. Last week’s budget winner is all of a sudden in the sights of every budget loser. Everyone in Harrisburg has some local concern or pet project that’s getting cut while gas drillers get a free lunch. And even the industry’s strongest allies in Harrisburg will defect if their alternative is getting blamed for local property tax increases.

Penn State. PA voters aren’t hearing Corbett’s arguments, they’re hearing “tuition increases.” Penn State is leading and winning the PR battle against Corbett’s proposed cuts. PSU President Graham Spanier went toe-to-toe with administration budget chief Charles Zogby in hearings this week, and several Republicans have said they won’t back steep cuts in funding to the school. On the other hand, they’re still likely to take a significant hit at the end of the day. And they lost a heartbreaker at the buzzer to Temple.

Bill Greenlee. The endangered Philadelphia Councilman got a lucky break this week when he drew top ballot position among the 20 at-large Council candidates. Money can’t buy that kind of a boost.