For the first time in months, Pa. voters will see a presidential campaign ad on network TV. We have the details. Plus new ads from lots of candidates in the state, and tons of state House & Senate updates. Good morning politicos, here’s the buzz.

Dem Super PACs On TV in PA to Knock Romney (Watch Video): For the first time since early September, Pennsylvania voters will see presidential campaign ads on network television. Two Democratic super PACs are collaborating on the air in Pittsburgh with a spot blasting Republican Mitt Romney.

U.S. Senate

Citizens United Poll: Casey 45, Smith 44: The U.S. Senate race is a statistical dead heat, according to a poll commissioned by the political committee of conservative group Citizens United.

Updated With Ad: Dem PAC Comes to Casey’s Aid With $500K+: A super PAC with the aim of preserving the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate will spend half a million dollars to protect Sen. Bob Casey, a prominent media buyer says.

The Casey-Rendell Feud: A Reader: Last week, former Pa. Governor Ed Rendell said it was no wonder Sen. Bob Casey’s polling lead was shrinking because, “He hasn’t run a campaign.” It went downhill from there.

Row Office TV Ads

Freed on TV with Classic Law & Order Message (Watch Video): Elect Dave Freed and he will lock up bad guys. The Republican Attorney General hopeful is on television, and his first spot of the campaign highlights his law and order acumen.

DePasquale on TV Thursday (Watch Video): Eugene DePasquale, the Democrat running for Auditor General, has unveiled his general election ad. The quirky spot highlights his good government acumen – and the difficulty of messaging in a race that most voters don’t care about.

McCord Aims to Put it Away With Big TV Buy (Watch Video): Rob McCord is the incumbent Treasurer, Obama looks to carry the state and boost the Democratic party ticket, and he enjoys a nearly $2 million fundraising advantage over his opponent. This week, he looks to seal the deal with a big TV buy.

Congressionals

Pro-Life Group Backs Rothfus: Rep. Mark Critz has spent much of the 2012 staking out a conservative position on abortion rights. But one of the country’s most prominent pro-life groups Wednesday backed his challenger, Republican Keith Rothfus.

Critz’s New Ad Distances Himself From Obama (Watch Video): A new ad released by the Critz Campaign speaks highly of Western PA energy jobs and distances the Congressman from President Obama.

Legislative Election Updates:

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) made its 2012 endorsements. The mildly bipartisan list is here.

And you can look here for the candidate profiles in York County races by the York Dispatch.

SD-13: The York Daily Record endorsed Dem challenger Tom O’Brien over Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster). “Sen. Smucker has had four years to familiarize himself with the York County parts of the 13th District, and he hasn’t really done so. Let’s give someone else a chance. Tom O’Brien may be an underdog in this heavily GOP district, but as he notes, he was the first Democrat ever elected to any office in Manheim Township as a member of the school board. That says something about his ability to work across party lines.” YDR also has this preview of the race.

SD-15: The York Daily Record has this preview of the race between Republican John McNally and Democrat Rob Teplitz. The competitive district includes a few municipalities in northern York County.

SD-17: It’s time for voters to dump Sen. Daylin Leach, according to a radio ad from his GOP opponent Charles Gehret. “In the 60-second ad titled ‘Rachel’s Breakup,’ two single mothers talking in a coffee shop discuss Leach’s failed attempts to tax their child support payments, raise the legal blood alcohol level for drunk drivers, establish a legal limit of illegal drugs in drugged drivers, and legalize medical marijuana.”

SD-49: Democrat Sean Wiley has widened his lead in the race to replace outgoing Sen. Jane Earll (R-Erie). He leads Republican opponent Janet Anderson 57 percent to 38 according to an internal poll released by his campaign.

HD-13: The Daily Local News takes a look at the race between Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester) and Dem and retired teacher Eric Schott.

HD-16: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette backed Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Beaver) for re-election over GOP challenger Kathy Coder. “Although both candidates showed themselves to be articulate and informed during an interview with Post-Gazette editors, Robert Matzie has the edge over his challenger by virtue of experience.”

HD-30: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette backed Dem David Tusick to replace now-Sen. Randy Vulakovich over Republican Hal English. “In the 30th District, the Post-Gazette endorses the young entrepreneur David T. Tusick, who has the potential to go on to great things.”

HD-47: The York Daily Record profiles the race between Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York) and Dem Sarah Speed.

HD-92: The York Daily Record endorsed Republican Mike Regan for the seat of outgoing Rep. Scott Perry (R-York). “In the end, Mr. Regan better represents the prevailing ideology of this district. With an impressive background of public service and leadership, there’s no question he can do a good job representing the 92nd District.” He faces Dem Chuck Comrey.

HD-93: Interesting that we’re not hearing this more. Dem Linda Small criticized Rep. Ron Miller (R-York) over the fact that Pa.’s unemployment rate (8.2 percent) is higher than the national rate (7.8 percent) for the first time in a decade. She, “calls on her opponent to reverse failed Republican budget choices and cuts to improve the jobs climate for Pennsylvania workers.”

HD-104: The race between Rep. Sue Helm (R-Dauphin) and Dem challenger Chris Dietz is heating up. Helm has aired two ads – one positive, one negative – on local cable. And Keystone Politics makes a case for Dietz.

HD-106: Osman Kamara, the longshot Dem challenging Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin), will sign the  Public Service Pledge of The Majority Party PA – an agreement to vote in accordance with public opinion when it’s strongly one way or another on various issues.

HD-116: Ransom Young, the Dem challenger to Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne), is keeping on the attack about a trip the lawmaker took to Israel – possibly with campaign funds.

HD-140: The Bucks County Courier Times endorsed Rep. John Galloway (D-Bucks) for re-election over GOP challenger Eric David. “Galloway has been an effective lawmaker. His crowning achievement in the state House has been to draft and then usher onto the books the state’s new E-Verify law, which requires contractors to confirm their workers are legal by using the Internet-based E-Verify system that provides an automated link to federal databases in order to determine the validity of Social Security numbers. It was a long row to hoe — and difficult — but Galloway got the job done.”

HD-141: The Bucks County Courier Times endorsed Rep. Tina Davis (D-Bucks) for re-election over Republican Anthony Sposato. “Incumbent Democrat Tina Davis is seeking a second term. She faces Republican Anthony Sposato, a Neshaminy school board member whose interest in the growth and development of young people includes books he’s written on the subject. Both candidates were impressive in their interviews with our editorial board.”

HD-155: Here’s what happened in the debate between Republican Becky Corbin and Democrat Josh Maxwell, both of whom are vying for the seat of retiring Rep. Curt Schroeder (R-Chester). Here’s the Daily Local News preview of the race.

HD-156: Check out the rundown of the debate between Rep. Dan Truitt (R-Chester) and challenger Bret Binder, one of Pa.’s top races. Here’s the Daily Local News preview of the race.

HD-161, 162: The United Aerospace Workers Local 1069, the union that represents about 2,000 employees at the Boeing facility in Ridley Township, endorsed Reps. Joe Hackett and Nick Miccarelli of Delaware County (along with U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan).

HD-167: The Daily Local News takes a look at the race between three-term incumbent Rep. Duane Milne (R-Chester) and Dem challenger Robert Broderick.

National
National Review: Common Name, Uncommon Challenger

Statewide
AP: Freed airs first TV spot in Pa. AG contest
Capitol Ideas: Eugene DePasquale is on the air in (the other) AG’s race.
Capitol Ideas: Dave Freed is on the air in the AG’s race.
Capitol Ideas: Corrected: Freed campaign disputes Kane’s Humane Society endorsement claim.
Capitol Ideas: Obama: You don’t need an ID to vote in Pennsylvania.
State House Sound Bites: Taking election complaints online, and CC-ing counties
State House Sound Bites: Lawyers ask judge to make faster ruling on state’s voter ID outreach efforts
State House Sound Bites: Phil Scollo challenges Tom Marino for control of PA-10
PA Independent: Business leaders, pols rally for debt-reduction plan
Capitolwire: Commonwealth Court judge listens to testimony in PA welfare law injunction request.

Philly
WHYY Newsworks: Complaints over election issues can be lodged online in Pa.
WHYY Newsworks: Mother of Matthew Shepard visits Philly to address conference
Philadelphia Daily News: Kenney wants to limit city’s use of exotic debt swaps
Philly Deals: Interest-rate swap strategy backfires, costs city $186M
Philadelphia Daily News: Developer to unveil plans for N. Broad site, but some don’t want casino
Philly Clout: Democratic PAC refuses to pull misleading AG race ad
Inquirer: The poor largely forgotten as a presidential campaign issue

SEPA
Philly Burbs: Fitzpatrick-Boockvar debate to be broadcast live
Philly Burbs: Obama talks 2nd term; Romney zeroes in on economy
Daily Times: Face the Facts Election Countdown: Gun manufacturing soars in U.S.
Newtown Patch: Large Romney Sign Vandalized with ‘47%’

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Obama attacks Romney on “trust” in Ohio
Post-Gazette: Outgoing Auditor General Wagner endorses Democrat DePasquale
Post-Gazette: Smith chips away at Casey in Pa senate race
Post-Gazette: Post-Gazette argues for right to photograph polling places
Post-Gazette: Groups ask Corbett to kill policy on Pennsylvania pollution by drilling
Early Returns: Judge: Corbett voter ID response Tuesday
Early Returns: NRTL endorses Rothfus
Early Returns: Dem group attacks Freed in AG race
Early Returns: Critz ad pronounces pro life/gun status

NEPA
The Times Leader: Stilp facing uphill fight
The Times Leader: Barletta focus on seniors
The Times Leader: Clash in Kingston: Mundy vs. Kaufer
Citizens Voice: Opponent takes aim at Toohil’s travel spending

South Central
York Daily Record: Attorney, chief counsel for auditor general running for 15th State Senate District
York Daily Record: Incumbent, attorney vie for 47th state House District seat.
York Daily Record: 13th District senatorial candidates focus on jobs, education
York Daily Record: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. says he’s not surprised race has tightened
The Patriot News: Harrisburg has only $1.4 million in the bank, state DCED says
The Patriot News: Rick Santorum to make several appearances in Pennsylvania next week
The Patriot News: Judge in Pa. Voter ID case asks state to respond to petitioners’ request to alter “Show it” ad campaign
The Patriot News: Bob Casey talks Medicare, taxes and free-trade agreements to group in Hershey

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Thornburgh, former governor, promotes legal aid in address to local lawyer
Pennsylvania Ave.: Majority PAC ad hits Smith on eliminating Department of Education

Opinion
Altoona Mirror: New juvenile sentencing bill finds proper balance
Post-Gazette: Re-elect Mazie for 16th district
Post-Gazette: Obama’s global experience came through in the debate
Philadelphia Daily News: What’s with Republicans and Rape
Inquirer: Cruise line backs Adler in expensive race
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Voters ID law gets a dry run this election

Blogs
Keystone Politics: Re-building America’s Welfare State
Keystone Politics: Election surprises brewing in Central PA
Keystone Politics: Toohil-Gate: Unanswered Questions, and Her Evasions – Will the Media Follow Up?
Keystone Politics: Rep. Lou Barletta Sends Taxpayer-Funded Staffer to Debate Gene Stilp
The Liberty Blog: Ronald Reagan A job is the best Social Program
The Liberty Blog: Outsourcing Debt – Democrats can’t be trusted with money