Keith Rothfus took a step toward joining Republicans’ top cadre of congressional challengers today. The NRCC officially reclassified him as ‘On the Radar,’ the second step in the committee’s “Young Guns” program for promising recruits.

This afternoon, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission launched the official website for the body that will draw the boundaries for the General Assembly and Pa Senate districts.

Accountability PA, the independent group operated by two former Bryan Lentz campaign staffers, has elicited a cease and desist letter from the Meehan campaign over a Medicare themed ad airing the Philadelphia area.

Political laughs tonight in Philly; a new Tea Party challenger for Casey; the clock has started on redistricting; and the GOP skewers Sturla.

That data – essentially a measurement of which parts of the state gained and lost population since 2000 – pinned the ideal population of a state Senate district (254,048) and a state House district (62,573), reports Laura Olson of the Post-Gazette’s Early Returns blog.

Republicans have jumped on comments made by Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), who employed a questionable choice of words regarding the increase in STDs rates in the Marcellus shale region. He apologized for his choice in words, but stuck hard to his underlying point.

Tea Party leader and mining industry veteran Tom Smith told PoliticsPA that he was willing and able to give his campaign a financial boost. A review of his past campaign contributions backs up the claim: Smith has contributed over $185,000 to a variety of Republican candidates over the past decade.

A new name has surfaced in the hunt for the GOP nomination: Tom Smith, Chairman of the Indiana-Armstrong Patriots. The coal industry veteran said he will formally announce his candidacy after Labor Day, and says that he will provide enough seed money to make a serious run.

Rick Perry handily won a Luzerne GOP straw this weekend as a number of PA activists are gearing up to support the Texas Governor.

Rick Perry making gains – in PA? 3 of 10 GOP Bonusgate defendants plead guilty; the NRCC goes after Critz; and Specter is not too optimistic about the super committee.