A PAGOP poll shows Romney and Smith leading in PA. SEPA congressionals get even less interesting, and Casey kicks it into gear. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

Don’t forget to check back later for the Ups & Downs.

PAGOP Poll: Romney by 4, Smith by 2: A poll commissioned by the Pa. Republican Party has, unsurprisingly, good news for Pa.’s statewide Republican candidates. Mitt Romney leads Barack Obama by 4 points, 49 percent to 45. Tom Smith leads Sen. Bob Casey 48 percent to 46.

U.S. Senate

Sabato, Roll Call Upgrade PA Senate Race: Two of the nation’s top election handicappers have upgraded Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race in light of recent polling that shows Republican Tom Smith gaining on Sen. Bob Casey. Larry Sabato and Roll Call each moved the race from “likely Democratic” to “lean Democratic.”

Casey Gears Up: Since a Quinnipiac poll showed Tom Smith just 3 points behind him, sen. Casey has kicked into gear and made his campaign far more public. He also unveiled a new radio ad that fact-checks Smith (sort of).

Congressionals

Meehan Cancels Broadcast TV Buy (Watch Video): Sensing a wide lead in his re-election bid, Rep. Pat Meehan’s campaign cancelled half a million dollars worth of television ads that had been slated for broadcast networks in the Philadelphia market.

PA-6: As Seen on TV?: Manan Trivedi, the Democratic challenger to Rep. Jim Gerlach, has cut back on TV time. Gerlach has yet to air ads on network television at all.

Rothfus MIL Whacks Critz; DCCC Also Fires (Watch Videos): The ad battle continues in PA-12, and today Keith Rothfus is getting a little help from his mother-in-law. The 86 year-old Elsie Lewis blasts Rep. Mark Critz. Meanwhile the DCCC has a new Medicare attack ad on Rothfus.

Pittsburgh Tribune Review congressional endorsements are in, and they’re kind of a bust. The conservative Trib backed incumbent Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) in PA-3 and Bill Shuster (R-Blair) in PA-9, Rep. Mike Doyle’s (D-Allegheny) no-chance GOP challenger Hans Lessman in PA-14 and made no endorsement in the race between Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Allegheny) and Dem Larry Maggi in PA-18 because – dear Lord – Murphy is union friendly. In PA-12, the most competitive congressional in Pa., the paper endorsed either candidate. Literally. (At least a win for Critz).

The Patriot News endorses Scott Perry for Congress in PA-4.

MSC Highlights Pro-Marcellus News Coverage: Election day is a mere 19 days away, and the Marcellus Shale Coalition wants to remind voters that Pa. is better off thanks to natural gas development.

Legislative Election Updates

The Delaware County Daily Times ed board made its state Senate & House endorsements, all incumbents but one: Dem challenger Beth Alois over Rep. Tom Killion in HD-168. Here are the rest:

SD-9: Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R); SD-17: Sen. Daylin Leach (D); HD-159: Rep.Thaddeus Kirkland (D); HD-162: Rep. Joe Hackett (R); HD-163: Rep. Nick Micozzie (R); HD-164: Rep. Margo Davidson (D); HD-165: Rep. Bill Adolph (R); HD-165: and Rep. Greg Vitali (D).

SD-9: Several business groups backed Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi for re-election. ChamberPAC, the political arm of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chambers of Commerce.

SD-13: Dem Tom O’Brien has made interesting use of the transitive property. He said that since Gov. Corbett’s approval rating is between 28 percent and 33 percent, and his opponent, Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster), has voted with Corbett 100 percent, then Smucker’s approval must be around 28 or 33 percent. Right…

And just in case O’Brien had any chance, Bill Neff, CEO and President of Neff Safe Lock & Security, has announced his intention to once again run as a write-in candidate. Please do yourself a favor and check out his campaign website.

SD-15: In perhaps the greatest debate format ever, the first questions to Republican John McNally and Democrat Rob Teplitz came from candidates who lost the primary to each. Also, the American Federation of Teachers-Pennsylvania endorsed Dem Rob Teplitz.

SD-17: Republicans are smacking Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montco) with negative mailers and the Senator responded Thursday with a fundraising email to supporters.

SD-49: Dem Sean Wiley is having a rally for supporters with Pa. Treasurer Rob McCord. He’s also holding a press conference with law-and-order-type groups that have endorsed him: Fraternal Order of Police Swanson Memorial Lodge #48, Fraternal Order of Police William Tyler Memorial Lodge #64, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7, Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge, the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local #293 and the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.

HD-92: The York Daily Record takes a look at both candidates vying to replace Rep. Scott Perry (R-York).

HD-146: Ed Rendell backed Dem Mark Painter against Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montco). “I know that Mark will fight for his district and be a strong voice for his constituents. Mark has protected taxpayers diligently as tax collector of Limerick, and it is clear to me that he will show that same work ethic in Harrisburg,” he said.

Statewide
Capitol Ideas: PA GOP launches new anti-Kathleen Kane website
PA Independent: Campaign culture, entrenched parties hurt democratic process
PA Independent: Teens can have sex in Pennsylvania, but “sexting” could be outlawed
StateImpactPA: Mystery Money Flowed to Corbett Campaign
Capitolwire: Human trafficking hotline notification bill passes Legislature
Capitolwire: Unions, school boards and House GOP uproar derail charter school reform
Capitolwire: III communication, funding issues led to debacle on charter reform bill, Turzai says
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR: RACP capsizes

Philly
Inquirer: Romney’s talk of women touches a raw nerve
Inquirer: Final flurry of Pennsylvania legislation
Inquirer: Proposed Pennsylvania tax benefit targeted at single company
Daily News: Casey brushes off Rendell’s comments about his campaign
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia families react to second presidential debate
WHYY Newsworks: Young Involved Philly lines up behind three worthy initiatives
Philadelphia City Paper: Lawmakers sign off on land bank bill

SEPA
Daily Times: Corbett campaign gained a $1.5 million dollar donation which is virtually untraceable
Daily Times: Obama and Romney use a wide definition of “middle class”
Daily Times: Bill Clinton and Bruce Springsteen campaign for Barack Obama
Daily Times: Obama election night rally in Chicago moved indoors
Daily Times: Analysis of Presidential race

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: GOP leader Turzai says he will keep pushing for liquor privatization
Post-Gazette: Romney’s ‘binders’ comment drives dialogue on women
Early Returns: Drugs aren’t cool, says state rep in response to attack video
Early Returns: More mothers/Mediscare in PA12
Early Returns: Sabato: Casey’s “subpar campaign”

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Coder paying off $42,500 in back taxes, tax lien on home

NEPA
The Times-Tribune: Barletta says he’s fed up by Congressional gridlock
Citizens Voice: ‘Below-the-belt’ video attacks Toohil

South Central
Patriot News: Analysis: Bob Casey retaining his Senate seat not a sure thing
York Daily Record: Education, taxes important to candidates in 92nd state House race

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: City Council backs plan to keep department jobs
The Morning Call: Pennsylvania lawmakers wrap session with flurry of bills
The Morning Call: Bob Casey hold rare campaign event
The Morning Call: Sexting, guns, taxes and charter schools ends pennsylvania’s two-year legislative session
Pennsylvania Ave. Obama campaign web spot features cycling PA volunteer

North by Northwest
Sun Gazette: Police Union Defends Position
Erie Times-News: Wiley campaign rally set

Opinion
Tribune Review: The race for president: Obama the Clueless
Tribune Review: For U.S. House: We recommend …
Phillyburbs: Obama’s flaws on foreign policy
Daily Times: Our endorsements for state house and senate
Pottstown Mercury: Senator Arlen Specter remembered
Post Gazette: New man, new winner: Obama takes the second round with pugnacity
Post Gazette: Treasurer McCord: The smart, skilled incumbent deserves a new term
Patriot News: Perry for Congress: Legislative, military experience is a plus
York Daily Record: Our take: Yes, we CAN talk across the partisan divide
Warren Times-Observer: We endorse Mitt Romney

Blogs
The Liberty Blog: People before Profits! – Protectionist Obama Administration Protects Profits of Political Corporate Cronies
The Liberty Blog: Islamists in America: Discover the Network
Keystone Progress: Easy to understand information about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
Jon Geeting: Romney tells employers to tell employees how to vote
Jon Geeting: Has anybody ever tried this?
Keystone Politics: Anonymous Creator of Toohil Video Explains Why; Poses 3 Questions to Rep.
Keystone Politics: Philly’s New Teen HPV Vaccination Campaign, for Both Genders
Keystone Politics: Senator Bob Casey endorses Kathy Bookvar
Keystone Politics: Toohil-Gate: It’s the Hypocrisy, Not the Possible Pot Use — and Why Is She Against Medical Marijuana?