Rafferty hits the airwaves, three new polls are released and Shapiro secures an unexpected endorsement. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Rafferty Premieres First TV Ads (VIDEOS): The GOP nominee touches on Kane, McCord, ISIS and heroin in just thirty seconds.

Peters Endorses Shapiro: The Democratic nominee secures the backing of the former GOP candidate.

CNN Poll: Clinton 50% Trump 47%: The race in Pennsylvania is tightening.

PA-Sen: CNN Poll: McGinty 49% Toomey 46%: McGinty emerges with small lead in new CNN survey.

Harper, Mercyhurst Polls Show Dead Heats in Presidential, Senate Races: Just a couple points separate the candidates in two new surveys.

Statewide
Capitolwire: In keeping distance from Trump, Toomey says it demonstrates his independence
Capitolwire: Legislators debate adding civics exam to high school graduation requirements
Statehouse Sound Bites: Toomey still refuses to endorse Trump
PLS Reporter: Senate Appropriations Committee advances performance-based budgeting bill
PLS Reporter: E-cigarette and vape rally takes over Capitol Rotunda
PLS Reporter: House committees examine proposal to require civics education graduation test
PLS Reporter: Parents rally for exception to the Truancy Law for chronically ill children

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Trump, Clinton clash on jobs, ISIS, temperament
Inquirer: Enrollment rises at Rosemont after big tuition cut
Daily News: Baer: Lots of he said/she said and dancing
Philly.com: Pa. country fair removes Nazi flag concession stand
Philly.com: In bars and halls, watching and cheering a historic debate
WHYY Newsworks: With election approaching, Republican Senator Patrick Toomey still won’t endorse Donald Trump
WHYY Newsworks: Thanks to grant, Pa. consortium can help more people with mental health needs get insurance
WHYY Newsworks: The Big Debate: will it matter?

SEPA
Bucks County Courier-Times: Pennridge enters debate on gender and bathroom use
Bucks County Courier-Times: Falls supervisors approve plan for new municipal building
Bucks County Courier-Times: Horsham mulls long-term water cleanup plans
Pottstown Mercury: Phoenixville official avoids ousting by moving back to his ward
Pottstown Mercury: Live Chat with #PresDebate: Local politicians analyze presidential debate

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Liberty Bridge open again, but with a 9-ton limit on vehicles
Post-Gazette: Rice Energy to buy Vantage for $2.7 billion
Post-Gazette: Braddock’s mayor to attend presidential debate
Post-Gazette: Allegheny Valley School District, teachers ratify five-year labor contract
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pitt joins Carnegie Mellon, city in White House MetroLab Network
WESA: Michelle Obama to campaign for Clinton at Pitt Wednesday
WESA: Gov. Wolf to address joint session on opioid epidemic
WTAE: Education, honesty, integrity key issues among Pittsburgh undecided voters

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Three new polls show Trump cutting into Clinton’s lead in Pennsylvania
Beaver County Times: Bill to provide pepper spray to prison guards advances in state Senate
Beaver County Times: Highway ramps to, from Beaver to close next week until mid-November
Tribune-Democrat: Ebensburg council unanimously approves motion to allow borough officers to carry Narcan

NEPA
Times Leader: Proposed Luzerne County tax break goes before county council
Times Leader: State Representatives Mullery and Carroll named ‘Environmental Champions’
Times-Tribune: University of Scranton Democrats, Republicans gather for debate watch party
Times-Tribune: Ceremony marks year-old Lackawanna County Vietnam War memorial
Times-Tribune: Dunmore OKs tax break on Apple Street

South Central
York Daily Record: Carol Hill-Evans: I’m in it to win it
York Daily Record: Joel Sears: School property taxes must go
York Daily Record: GOP gains in York, but will it matter?
Patriot-News: Chuck Ardo returns to AG’s office following tempestuous Kane tenure
Patriot-News: Family of chronically sick kids urges state lawmakers to pass Student Medical Leave Act
Patriot-News: For one night each year, politicos and journalists meet for cocktails and comedy

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Pat Toomey portrays lack of embrace for Donald Trump as asset
Reading Eagle: Toomey launches new immigration politics attack on McGinty
WFMZ: Stein escorted off Hofstra University campus
Lehigh Valley Live: Diocese cooperating in investigation into abuse, ‘a grave sin and crime’

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Senators draft bill to protect nuclear whistleblowers
Erie Times-News: Erie County budget proposal to be unveiled Friday
Erie Times-News: Weaver arraigned in federal fraud case

Opinion
Patriot-News: The first step to fixing Syria? Arming the Kurds
Tribune-Democrat: ‘A lot of votes’ on the line: Will high-stakes presidential debate sway election hold-outs?
Inquirer: War on terrorism isn’t the most important battle this nation must fight
Daily News: The facts about sugar aren’t so sweet
Post-Gazette: The great Arnold Palmer: The man from Latrobe was more than a golfer
Post-Gazette: All aboard, Beechview: Hop on the restored T to this growing city spot
Post-Gazette: Europe in knots: Migration, Brexit and U.S. vote stymie stability

Blogs
Keystone Crossroads: PA coaltown will not thrive without tax change
Commonwealth Foundation: Issue over school funding still being discussed
PA Budget and Policy Center: Health insurance plans are set to change this year
2 Political Junkies: Honesty still lacks between both candidates this presidential election