Month: January 2011

1/25 Morning Buzz

Rendell eyes a spot at MSNBC as he rejoins the law firm of Ballard Spahr. It’s starting to look like southwestern PA will bear the brunt of redistricting. Battles over abortion are brewing in PA and DC. Toomey defends Pennsylvania’s honor in a Super Bowl prop bet with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). In SD-11 Special election news, Judy Schwank is now officially the Democratic candidate. And Santorum continues to get mileage out of his abortion/race/Obama non-gaffe.

January 25, 2011 No Comments

Early Returns: SWPA Likely Target of Redistricting

Our friends over at the Post-Gazette’s Early Returns have the skinny on a redistricting presentation by Eric Kratz, political director of the Pennsylvania Business Council, and political consultant (and PoliticsPA top operative) Christopher Nicholas.

January 24, 2011 No Comments

Toomey, Wisconsin Senator Johnson Wager Over Super Bowl

Nothing like a little softball, prop-bet press. Newly elected PA Senator Pat Toomey announced this afternoon that he and Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are betting over the Super Bowl.

January 24, 2011 No Comments

At Official Schwank Nomination, Democrats Focus on O’Pake

Democrats today officially nominated former Berks County Commissioner Judy Schwank as their candidate for the special election to replace the late State Senator Mike O’Pake (D-11). In a Harrisburg press conference announcing the decision, Schwank and Democratic officials focused on man she would be replacing.

January 24, 2011 1 Comment

Rendell Joins Ballard Spahr, Nears Signing Deal With MSNBC

If our now-former Governor plans to take a day off before starting his next endeavor, there’s no evidence that PoliticsPA can see. Rendell has rejoined the law firm of Ballard Spahr, and is close to signing a deal with MSNBC.

January 24, 2011 3 Comments

1/24 Morning Buzz

The big news came out of Reading this weekend and PoliticsPA was on the scene. Each party selected its candidate for the special election to replace the late State Senator Mike O’Pake: Democrats rallied behind former Commissioner Judy Schwank (as PoliticsPA predicted on Dec. 29), and Republicans picked Register of Wills Larry Medaglia. The Berks County-based special will be the first test of GOP momentum after big wins in 2010. Check out the other weekend news, too.

January 24, 2011 1 Comment

Berks GOP Picks Larry Medaglia, Register of Wills, for 11th District Special

Berks County Republicans nominated Register of Wills Larry Medaglia this evening as their candidate for the March 15th special election to replace State Senator Mike O’Pake.

January 22, 2011 5 Comments

Dems Pick Schwank; Berks County Now at Center of PA Politics

The Berks County Democrats recommended former Berks Commissioner Judy Schwank for their candidate to replace the late State Senator Mike O’Pake, putting Berks County at the center of Pennsylvania politics.

January 22, 2011 3 Comments

Eyeing 2012 challenge to Casey, Corman bolsters social conservative cred

State Sen. Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) reached out to social conservative voters with his announcement to introduce legislation that will require state Department of Health officials to provide licensing and annual inspections for abortion clinics within the Commonwealth.
He’s making inroads with a key demographic that could help him take on Casey: social conservatives.

January 21, 2011 No Comments

Salena Zito: Remembering Aldo Santorum

Salena Zito of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a touching memorial to the father of former Senator Rick Santorum.

January 21, 2011 1 Comment