Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz. A series of polls shed light on PA statewide races, a new Obama campaign ad in PA, shakeup on the Guv’s team, and Daryl Metcalfe is at it again, this time taking on Planned Parenthood.

Mitt Romney is in Philadelphia this morning to talk education at Universal Bluford Charter School.

Poll: Casey Leads Smith Despite Tepid Numbers: In the first head-to-head poll since the primary last month, Bob Casey boasts a solid lead over Republican opponent Tom Smith: 49 to 33 percent. But Casey’s approval leaves room for growth. Also: Kane leads Freed for AG, and the first poll numbers in the Auditor and Treasurer races.

Team Obama’s Favorite Graph Anchors New Ad (Watch Video): We’ve all seen the job loss/creation graph. The Obama campaign’s most highly-touted visual aid makes its television debut today in the ad “Reverse.” The entire spot focuses on that illustration of job creation during his presidency.

Metcalfe Bill Targets Planned Parenthood Funding: Move over ultrasound mandate, there’s a new reproductive battle in town. State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe introduced a bill Wednesday that would defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers and reallocate the money to alternative women’s health service providers.

Corbett Shakeup on Its Way? The Inquirer reports that senior Republicans have some tough love for the Guv, and warn that if he doesn’t become more outgoing and politically savvy, he could be looking at a single term. And as we drafted the Buzz, news broke that Corbett Chief of Staff Bill Ward is on his way out.

Poll: Support for Same-Sex Marriage Increases Statewide: In the first poll since President Barack Obama publicly announced his support of gay marriage, Pennsylvanians have increased their support of same-sex marriage, with 39 percent supporting it and 48 percent opposing, a 7 percent increase since the last poll on the issue in November.

Obama Campaign Sticks to Bain Guns: Following a week of battles via TV ads and cable news, Barack Obama’s campaign continued its attack on Mitt Romney’s business record at Bain Capital during Wednesday conference call. Their criticism came despite resistance from several prominent Democrats.

Are You Smarter Than a Congressman? The grades are in, and PA’s members of Congress slightly outperform the grade level of the average speaker in Washington, DC. Take a look at this analysis of congressional speeches to see who got the best score (and who got the worst).

National
Post-Gazette: Romney presses for more school choice, says Obama ‘unwilling to stand up for kids’
AP: Congressional Budget Office warns of U.S falling off ‘fiscal cliff’
AP: Obama focuses on seniors, veterans in positive ads
AP: Competitive Senate race heating up in North Dakota
AP: Obama trumpets new polling on gay marriage
AP: Romney defends at Bain Capital Firm
AP: Primary sweep has Romney 1 win from GOP Nomination
AP: Romney oil adviser also a big super PAC donor
AP: Obama to address Air Force graduates in Colorado
AP: Romney shifting focus from economy to education
AP: Romney to propose voucher-like education overhaul
AP: Obama, Dems redoubling money efforts to keep edge
AP: Primary protest votes show displeasure with Obama
AP: Obama fundraising edge over Romney shrinking
Inquirer: Attacks start early for presidential election
Fox Philadelphia: Romney pledges 6% unemployment by end of first term

Statewide
Tribune-Review: Prosecutors seek up to $2 million in restitution from Orie
Tribune-Review: Pa. House GOP hopes to reallocate family planning funds
Tribune-Review: Former Veon aid sentenced to house arrests
Post-Gazette: DA seeks $2.7 million from Orie as part of corruption sentence
Post-Gazette: Pa. Senate panels offers recovery plan to troubled school districts
Early Returns: Another Blow to Pa. battleground status
Early Returns: Casey Up Big Over Smith: PPP Poll
AP: Birth certificate rule dropped for Pa. voter IDs
AP: Corbett wants corrections reforms passed in June
AP: Pa. eyes control in struggling school districts
AP: State could save millions on prison system, report says
Inquirer: Pa lawmakers introduce bill to defund Planned Parenthood
PhillyNow: Pennsylvania Rep. introduces bill to defund Planned Parenthood

Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia City Council feels squeeze of budget deadline amid open questions
KYW Newsradio: Nutter defends Ayers as firefighters’ union demands commissioner’s resignation
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. lawmaker targets funding for Planned Parenthood
WHYY Newsworks: In Pa., a struggle to pay for some long-term care
Inquirer: McGeehan: Latest fraud shows PHA not ready for local oversight
Daily News: Insurgents bid for control of Philadelphia GOP
Daily News: Firestorm: City-owned abandoned factories a threat to neighbors
PhillyClout: City Council concerned about Harrisburg, AVI
PhillyClout: Nutter: I have faith in fire commissioner

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Meehan hopes resolution will help with college campus security
Delco Daily Times: Legislation in Harrisburg could help distressed schools

Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Downtown Pittsburgh education protest ends with 11 arrests

NEPA
The Times-Tribune: Ciavarella appeals conviction, accuses judge of bias
The Times-Tribune: Bishop announces support for lawsuits against Obama Administration
The Times-Tribune: Pelosi to raise money for Cartwright

South Central
Patriot News: Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey seeks to protect veterans from job discrimination.
Patriot News: State Sen. Jeff Piccola discusses education funding crisis following morning rally

North by Northwest
Erie Times News: Presidential campaign offices key to grassroots appeal
Sharon Herald: Obama supporters report to HQ

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Ad attacks Barack Obama health care, tax, debt promises
WFMZ: Pa. simplifies method of getting photo ID for voting

Opinions
Post-Gazette: Devil’s Bargain: The 911th gets coverage but under a bad spending bill
Post-Gazette: Mixed marks: The NATO alliance seeks an exit from Afghanistan
Observer-Reporter: Editorial: Empty state prisons while appeals proceed
Daily News Editorial: Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s been indicted. She has to go
Inquirer Editorial: Reverse bad decision boosting negative ads
Inquirer Op-ed: Fracking spurs a municipal mutiny in Pennsylvania
Inquirer Editorial: Must keep guns out of felons’ hands
Pottstown Mercury Editorial: Daniel Boone takes a chance of behalf of taxpayers
PhillyBurbs Op-ed: Why I don’t like Obamacare
Citizens Voice: Time for action on pension crisis
Politico: Opinion: Seniors could be Obama’s Achilles’ heel
Patriot News: Payday loan bill would provide safeguards in Pennsylvania
Lewistown Sentinel: Editorial – “Piling on” against Orie is correct on taxpayers’ behalf

Blog
PA Budget and Policy Center: Survey of PA School Districts Signals More Cuts to Classrooms
Lehigh Valley Independent: LVCI Joins Team ‘Earn It Here, Keep It Here’
Lehigh Valley Independent: Today in Housing Recovery
Lehigh Valley Independent: What Happens If the Townships Kill the NIZ?
NEPArtisan: PA Hates Women (Still)
2 Political Junkies: The Frame (The Frame’s The Thing)
LuLac Political Letter: THE 1% AND US
Pennsylvania Progressive: News & Notes May 23, 2012
Above Average Jane: Metcalfe Again Goes After Planned Parenthood
Keystone Progress: ALEC’s Legislative Agenda on Education
Keystone Progress: ALEC’s Legislative Agenda on Women and Children
Keystone Politics: Where the Waste Is In Corrections
Keystone Politics: Daryl Metcalfe Trying to Defund Planned Parenthood
Keystone Politics: Independent Fiscal Office Improving the #PABudget Debate
John Hanger: More Rate Cuts Push Shale Gas Savings To $1,450 For Many Consumers