We’ve got the latest presidential and U.S. Senate polls with updates on both races in Pa. The ads, debates and campaign updates are coming quickly now! Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Siena Poll: Obama 43, Romney 40: Pa. has far more undecided voters in the presidential race than most people thought, according to the latest poll from the Siena College Research Institute. President Obama leads Mitt Romney by 3 points with a whopping 17 percent of voters not aligned with either candidate.
Some Romney PA Staff Heading to OH: A Romney campaign source confirmed to PoliticsPA that their campaign is shifting staff, slightly, from Pennsylvania to Ohio for the coming days. The move is temporary and involved just 5 out of 64 Pa. staffers, the source says.
U.S. Senate
Siena Poll: Casey by 9: Sen. Bob Casey is just shy of a double digit lead over Republican Tom Smith according to a new survey by the the Siena College Research Institute. He leads his challenger 44 percent to 35; 16 percent of voters said they didn’t have an opinion or don’t know.
New, More Negative Smith Ad Hits Casey (Watch Video): The leaves are falling, temperature dropping and the tenor of campaign ads is getting far more foreboding. The latest from Republican Tom Smith is the most textbook negative ad yet against Sen. Bob Casey.
Cook Political Report Upgrades PA Senate Race: The Cook Political Report has joined the National Journal and the Washington Post in promoting Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race from likely Democrat to lean Democrat.
Congressionals
World (Market) Domination Kelly’s Goal in First TV Ad (Watch Video): Mike Kelly has released his first TV ad, one aimed at small business owners like the Republican Congressman himself. As an owner of three car dealerships, Kelly’s spot drives home his stance on government regulation and restoring America to its glory days as an industrial powerhouse.
DCCC Hammers Rothfus on Colombia Trade (Watch Video): Airing in PA-12, the spot begins with tracker footage of Rothfus saying, “I believe in free trade. I think I see a country like Colombia, who has been making tremendous strides.”
No Game Changer in PA-11 Debate; No Props, Either: There were no props or pigs, no stunts Monday night. Rep. Lou Barletta prevented Democratic challenger Gene Stilp from scoring a game-changing moment in a the 11th district congressional debate.
Legislative Election Updates
Pa. House Dem Hopefuls Hit the Air (Watch Videos): The election is in one month, and now even state House candidates are getting in on the action. Here are campaign ads from the Democrats on TV.
SD-15: The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters and the Pennsylvania State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen backed Dem Rob Teplitz.
SD-37 (Watch videos): The Raja campaign stayed on the attack this week with a new spot against Dem. Matt Smith, this time for taking a pension he said he wouldn’t. We also have a copy of Smith’s outsourcing-themed ad against Raja.
SD-49: The Pa. Sierra Club endorsed Dem Sean Wiley.
HD-30: The Tribune Review takes a look at the race to replace Randy Vulakovich who was just elected to the Pa. Senate. Republican Hal English faces Democrat David Tusick. The North Hills district favors the GOP.
HD-39: Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny) edged out Dave Levdansky by a slim margin in 2010, but has the voting record of someone from the “T”. It’s his conservative record that caused the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to endorse Levdansky in the rematch. They wrote, in part, “Other issues separate the candidates, and on most Mr. Levdansky espouses a more sensible view — believing that higher license and registration fees should help fix roads and bridges and that women should not be forced to undergo an ultrasound test (favored by Mr. Saccone) before an abortion.”
HD-89: If it has anything to do with dogs and state government, the Inky’s Amy Worden is on it. And she picked up on Rep. Rob Kauffman’s puppy photoshop. Also, Dem Susan Spicka got the endorsement of the Education Voters Action Fund.
HD-131: Sen. Pat Toomey sent an email to his list of supporters on behalf of his own state Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh), who is facing a serious challenge. “Justin is a proven leader when it comes to reforming state government. He helped save taxpayers over $30,000 in his first year in office by refusing taxpayer-paid pensions, per diems, and perks,” Toomey wrote. “Now, this election year, Justin’s principled values are targeted for defeat by the tax-spend-and-borrow crowd in Harrisburg.” Here’s the latest Express-Times article about the race.
HD-152: Dem Ronald Kolla is challenging incumbent Rep. Tom Murt (R-Montco) over Marcellus. “Within the past week Governor Corbett has fired Pennsylvania’s award-winning director of the State Park system and obtained the resignation of the State Health Secretary. In neither instance was any explanation given for these actions. But the cause is clear,” Kolla said. He challenged Murt to confront Corbett.
HD-159: More on Republican Jay Schirilo’s allegations that Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland (D-Delaware) directed state funds to organizations connected to him and his family. And here’s an update from the Delco Daily Times.
HD-189: Dem challenger Liz Forrest is accusing Rep. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe) of once again avoiding a debate. Brown declined an invitation from the Pike County Historical Society to debate at The Columns Museum. Brown has agreed to a 6 candidate, multi-district forum; Forrest wants a one-on-one debate.
Statewide
Capitol Ideas: Roger Nutt to leave turnpike commission
Pennsylvania Independant: Imperfect tax incentives leave room for improvement
Pennsylvania Independant: Roger Nutt resigns from turnpike commission
Philadelphia
INQ: Report: Philly’s Romney T-shirt controversy and Constitutional Rights
Heard in the Hall: Report: ‘Booka!’ Controversial Council staffer throws down in Germantown club
Heard in the Hall: Report: Abu-Jamal smear raises profile of Bucks candidate
AP: Report: A month before vote, ‘eclectic’ county deliberates
PhillyClout: Report: Mitt Romney Campaign sends PA Staffers to Ohio
PhillyClout: Report: Tuesday’s DN: When the Mitt Romney t-shirt hits the fan
SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Report: Marcus Hook Mayor Jay Schiliro seeks investigation of state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland (With Video)
Delco Daily Times: Report: Dems blast GOP attack ad featuring Mumua Abu-Jamal
Delco Daily Times: Report: Pennsylvania GOP leaders still hope to ride Mitt Romney’s coattails
AP: Report: A month before vote, ‘eclectic’ Pa. county deliberates
Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: The state can keep reporters, photographers out of polling places on Election Day, judge rules
Tribune Review: Political corruption a tough backdrop in Pennsylvania’s 30th District
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Jill Biden emphasizes registration deadline
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Judge dismisses Post-Gazette lawsuit seeking access to polling places
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Romney foreign-policy speech takes tough tone but proposes few changes
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Ryan promises improved economy, leadership
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Allegheny County will accept voter registration forms until 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: DCCC rips Rothfus on free trade
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Paul hits Manchin over aid, Obama
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Report: Romney moving staff from Pa
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Siena: Pa voters undecided
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: GOP poll: Rothfus by 2 over Critz
Southwest
Beaver County Times: WH race contested in far fewer states than in past
Beaver County Times: Akin chides gov’t money tied to McCaskill’s spouse
NEPA
Citizen’s Voice: Barletta, Stilp spar over issues at debate
Citizen’s Voice: Jill Biden stumps in Scranton, Hazleton
The Times Tribune: Panel discusses issues expectations for elections
South Central
Lancaster Online: Jill Biden makes campaign stop for Obama in Lancaster
York Daily Record: You’ll only see Obama’s Bird Bird ad on cable
York Daily Record: Vice presidential debate: Five things to watch
York Daily Record: Obama, Romney shift focus to Ohio again
Lehigh Valley
Pennsylvania Ave: Pennsylvania’s voter registration deadline: A snapshot from Lehigh County
Pennsylvania Ave: Romney temporarily shifts some PA resources to Ohio
North by Northwest
GoErie: Republican treasurer candidate visits Erie.
Opinions
Reading Eagle: Jurist right to postpone law, but the measure is valid
Sun Gazette: State police aviation removal a legislative embarrassment
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 39th House District: Levdansky offers forward-thinking leadership
Blogs
Keystone Politics: High Inequality Within US Metros Calls for Regional Tax Bases
Keystone Politics: Kauffman Canine Contest Winner
Keystone Politics: The Motto: You Only Privatize Once
Jon Geeting: Gracedale a Year Later
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Would Ike Strike Iran?
One Response
I saw that website on here about Mark Critz and I don’t know how anyone could vote for him.
http://www.citizensagainstmarkcritz.com/