Good morning politicos, and welcome to the Buzz. President Obama is heading to Scranton today to plug payroll tax cuts, and Republicans are lining up to take shots at the Commander in Chief. On the Pa. front, Sen. John Rafferty will make his bid for Attorney General official today.

NYT Looks at Obama in ‘Hilary County’: Kathryn Seelye visited Scranton this week, and found that many Democrats who supported Hilary Clinton in 2008 are slow to warm to Obama in 2012. This is a meme that will continue to develop through 2012.

Chris Carney 2012? A flurry of online activity makes it look like a Carney comeback may be in the works.

Lancaster GOP Chair Endorses Welch: Tuesday, Steve Welch’s U.S. Senate campaign announced the endorsement of Lancaster Republican GOP Chairman Ethan Demme, who runs a small business in addition to his political work.

National
Washington Post: Pennsylvania Becomes Major Battleground for Obama in 2012
Morning Call: Toomey to push for permanent earmark ban
Morning Call:State senate leader ponders Casey challenge
Times Tribune: In ticket line, Obama boosters rave about their man
WHYY Newsworks: Obama Pa. Visit May Demonstrate Democratic Apprehension
Philly Now: Defense Authorization Bill Brings Casey and Toomey Together
Philly Now: National Defense Authorization bill makes unlikely allies; Casey office responds
Nashua Telegraph: Santorum claims conservative mantle

Statewide
Post-Gazette: Diocese ‘corrects’ tuition letter
Capitol Ideas: Report: State Governments Still In Dire Fiscal Straits
Capitol Ideas: Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery To Announce For AG On Wednesday
State Impact: NJ Lawmakers Want to Keep Pennsylvania’s Frack Water From Crossing Statelines
State Impact: “Increased Bromide Caused by Lab Error Not Drilling, Researches Say”
State Impact: Drill Bits: Smart Grids, Global Thinkers and the BBC in Bradford County
State Impact: “EPA Could Give Power Companies Options to Delay Rule”
PA Independent: PA still blocking shipment of wine to residents’ homes
Bucks County Courier Times: State Rep. Stephens To Introduce Bill To Tighten Penalties For Retail Theft
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Lawmakers Threaten To Intervene In Dispute Between Hospital, Insurer
Times Leader: Casey sees benefit in Social Security tax cut
Morning Call: Toomey: Ban earmarks forever
Morning Call: Pileggi eyeing U.S Senate run
WFMZ: Toomey blames democrats for super committee’s failures
WFMZ: Lawmakers squabble over extending payroll tax cut
Times Tribune: Senate leader let Casey lead on tax cuts
Go Lackawanna: Government checking PSU’s compliance with clergy act
Go Lackawanna: Casey sees benefit in social security tax cut

Philly
ABC Philadelphia: Arlene Ackerman Collecting Unemployment Benefits
WHYY Newsworks: Mayor Nutter, Construction Unions Committ To Cooperation, Diversity

Philly Burbs
The Intelligencer: Montco To Start Making Tough Budget Decisions

Pittsburgh
Post Gazette: Port Authority braces for another service cut
Early Returns: Small DNC buy and Pileggi news
Tribune Review: Shale industry’s hotel fuels local business
Essential Public Radio: City Council starts budget process; wants more specifics on 2012 spending plan

NEPA
Times Tribune: Many NEPA lawmakers forgo pay raise
Times Tribune: Committee to focus on flood reaction
Citizens Voice: Powell will stay out of prison until Dec. 27
Daily Review: Canton Borough Council to discuss budget
Daily Review: Sabatura wins election tiebreaker
Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre needs $2.7 million for flood cleanup

South Central
Sentinel: PA constable pleads guilty in planned vault heist

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Council OK’s budget without property tax hike
WFMZ: Commissioners hear concerns about future of mail facility
Lehigh Valley Live: Occupy movement protests outside North Whitehall township foreclosure
Lehigh Valley Live: Northampton county council to hear of budget amendments tonight

Southwest
Tribune Democrat: Wind plans move forward

Opinion
Baer Growls: More “Can Train” Trouble
Commonwealth Confidential: Pittsburgh Diocese: Blurring the lines between church and state?
Patriot News: Gov. Corbett has been good for Pa. students and budget

Blogs
PA Town Hall: Another Proposal to End School Property
PA Town Hall: The Unnamed Holiday
Centrist: Obama’s Failed Scranton Promises
Centrist: What Are We Paying Obama For? And Can it Get Worse?
Centrist: Gallup: Obama Job Approval Drops Below Jimmy Carter’s
Centrist: John Rafferty to Announce Bid for PA Attorney General
Centrist: Your Daily Dose of Liberal Media Bias
Centrist: Poll: More Americans support Tea Party over Occupy movement
Centrist: Sen. Pat Toomey says Dems torpedoed debt panel to protect Obama
Capitol Punmanship: Occupy Lancaster seeks to clear up media-fueled misconceptions
Capitol Punmanship: Rep. Joe Pitts town hall gets occupied
Third and State: Using Temporary Workers to Forecast the PA Economy
Pennsylvania Progressive: Herman Cain’s Sexual Infidelity
Jon Geeting: Tea Party Morons Killed the Sustainable Communities Program
Jon Geeting: Replace Jennifer Mann With Another Woman
Jon Geeting: Just Sayin…
Jon Geeting: Bond Buyer on #MuniCon
2 Political Junkies: It’s that time of year again!
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: What Tinkerbell Likes About Herman Cain
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Will Man Work Full Time for Vitetta?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Cusick Will Try to Reduce Tax Hike