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August 2 Playbook: Lining Up

Good Tuesday morning. Watching the MLB trade deadline with interest today.

GOP Congressional Delegation Endorses Mastriano. Third-Party Candidates File in Governor, Senate Races. Republicans Worried About Dr. Oz. Here is the Playbook.

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News

1. Eight Members of GOP Congressional Delegation Endorse Mastriano

Eight GOP members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation endorsed Doug Mastriano for governor of the Commonwealth.

The joint endorsement came in a letter signed by Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne), Scott Perry (R-York), Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster), Fred Keller (R-Northumberland), John Joyce (R-Blair), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny), Glenn Thompson (R-Centre), and Mike Kelly (R-Butler).

“… (W)e are proud to endorse Doug Mastriano for Governor of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s families are struggling to put gas in their cars and food on their tables. Progressive policies supported by Joe Biden and Josh Shapiro have led to fewer jobs, higher crime rates, rampant drug addiction, and less freedom for Pennsylvania’s hard-working families … Doug Mastriano’s passion for life, freedom and liberty make him the clear choice for our next Governor.”

Related

All But One PA House GOP Members Endorse Mastriano For Governor. “In a statement sharing the endorsement letter Monday, Mastriano thanked the lawmakers who backed him, calling them “great champions of liberty and prosperity.” (The Hill)

In PA Governor’s Race, Shapiro Outspends Mastriano 10:1 On Summer Ads. “If it seems like your television set is giving a one-sided view of the Pennsylvania governor’s race so far, congratulations — you are a perceptive viewer. Because through the end of July, Democrat Josh Shapiro’s campaign for governor has outspent Republican Doug Mastriano by a nearly 10:1 ratio, including both campaign-produced ads and messages produced and aired by like-minded political action committees.” (PennLive)

 

Elections

2. Third-Party Candidates Add to Governor, Senate Races

The list of candidates for the 2022 U.S. Senate and Governor’s races is growing as third-parties are getting their preferred choices approved for the November ballot by the Department of State.

The Keystone and Libertarian parties have filed voter signatures, while the Green Party is still striving to get nominees in by the August 1 deadline.

Pennsylvania’s threshold for third-party candidates to qualify for the ballot is 5,000 signatures of registered voters.”

Related

Third-Party Candidates File to Run for PA Governor, Senate.Pennsylvania third-party candidates for governor and U.S. Senate have filed paperwork ahead of a Monday deadline to get on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, potentially making a crucial difference in the high-stakes races.” (Associated Press)

Joe Sestak, Christine Todd Whitman Join Forward Party, A New Third Political Party. “The Forward Party aims to “give Americans more choices in elections, more confidence in a government that works, and more say in our future.” (WHYY)

 

U.S. Senate

3. Republicans Are Worried That Things Are Going Wrong for Dr. Oz

“The battle for control of the Senate is tightening, and one race is causing more concern than any other for Republicans.

It’s the contest in Pennsylvania where Mehmet Oz, better known as TV’s “Dr. Oz,” hopes to replace retiring Sen. Pat Toomey (R).

If Democrats were able to pick up a seat in the Keystone State, it would make the Republican quest to retake control of the upper chamber much more complicated.

But that’s exactly what polls are predicting right now.” (The Hill)

Related

Dr. Oz, Losing Ground Since Winning the PA GOP Senate Primary. “Towards the end of June, I called Pennsylvania GOP Senate nominee Mehmet Oz “the wildly underperforming Ford Pinto of Republican Senate candidates,” a line that Frank Bruni of the New York Times quoted this weekend.” (National Review)

Senate Candidates Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman Have Wildly Different Personal Finances, New Congressional Financial Disclosures Show. “Their portfolios also largely reflect their political personas: Oz the competitive, business-minded television doctor and international celebrity, Fetterman the wears-shorts-in-winter everyman with a nearly fatal aversion to doctors.” (Business Insider)

Fact Checking ‘Wizard of Lies’ Attack on Mehmet Oz Over ‘Miracle’ Claims, Immigration, His Residency. “The ad is from MeidasTouch, a super PAC that says its primary goals are “protecting American democracy, defeating Trumpism and holding Republicans accountable.” It has spent more than $2.16 million during the 2021-22 election cycle, according to the nonprofit OpenSecrets.” (PolitiFact)

 

Around The Commonwealth

 

Bob Casey Joined The Outrage as Democrats Hammer Pat Toomey Over a Stalled Bill to Help Veterans.Casey, who almost never directly criticizes Toomey, came close to doing so in a morning video call with reporters, blasting the 14 Republicans who have voted against the PACT Act since it first came up in June. That group included Toomey.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Sen. Pat Toomey Defends His Effort to Remove ‘Budget Gimmick’ From Veterans Health Bill to Address Illnesses From Burn Pits, Other Toxins.Mr. Toomey, who was one of 14 Republican “no” votes earlier this summer, is reiterating his argument against shuffling $390 billion in Veterans Affairs spending from the government’s discretionary category to an annual mandatory, automatic spending category — the way in which programs like Social Security are categorized.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Thousands of Western PA Democrats Are Leaving for the Republican Party. No One Seems Sure Why. “From Jan. 1 to July 25, more than 8,100 Democrats changed their voter registration to Republican in Allegheny County and the adjacent Armstrong, Butler, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties., according to Pennsylvania Department of State data.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Republican Leadership Fight Prompt Legal Action From Allegheny County Communications Director. “Amie Downs has filed court papers in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court against M J Costello, a leader of the conservative advocacy group TeamRED. The move comes after Costello accused Republican County Chair Sam DeMarco of using party funds to pay Downs, the chair of a local Democratic committee who, in her county role, often speaks on behalf of Democratic County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and his administration.” (90.5 WESA)

Harrisburg Mayor Temporarily Transfers Power to Police Chief After Medical Procedure.Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams has transferred her mayoral powers to Police Commissioner Thomas Carter for about two weeks, due to a medical procedure.” (PennLive)

DA: Record Documenting Domenick’s Incarceration Deleted Under ‘Suspicious Circumstances.’A record documenting Commissioner Debi Domenick’s incarceration at Lackawanna County Prison was deleted, District Attorney Mark Powell confirmed Monday. The DA’s office is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into the purged record. Domenick’s arrest occurred in August 1995, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.” (Times Tribune)

 

Commentary

6 Responses

  1. “Thousands of Western PA Democrats Are Leaving for the Republican Party. No One Seems Sure Why.”

    LOL. A lotta people are sure why. Dems are the party of elites and big corporations. They care more about pronouns and Jan6 than crime and Gas6.

    Gonna be so glorious this fall with the Red Tsunami.

  2. Dr Oz seems unfocused and meandering. Leaving the state after the primary and before the primary going to the walk of fame in Los Angeles. You wonder about his dedication to the race.

    1. …..and his weak dedication to America, as he says he will renounce Turkey citizenship only if he wins seat in US Senate.

  3. Not news that multiple Jan. 6 insurrectionist GOP Congressmen endorse Dung Mastriano, another Jan. 6 insurrectionist, for PA Gov.

    1. Next they will be lining up to endorse New Jersey’s own Dr. Oz for PA’s US Senate seat.





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