I’ve Got Friday On My Mind. Enjoy your weekend.

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Happy Birthday
Cake and candles on Saturday for Rep. Donna Bullock.

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Top Story

1. What Attacks On Fetterman’s Health Reveal About Disability and Politics

Political candidates with disabilities have to work harder than most to assure voters that they are competent and capable of doing the job.

Look no further than John Fetterman in Pennsylvania. (FiveThirtyEight)

Related

Fetterman Tops Trafalgar Poll. John Fetterman leads Mehmet Oz, 47.2 to 44.8 percent, in the latest Trafalgar Poll released Thursday night. Erik Gerhardt received 3.4 percent, while 4.1 percent were undecided in a survey of 1,078 likely voters. (Trafalgar Group)

Fetterman’s Use Of Captions Is Common In Stroke Recovery, Experts Say. “Closed captions are a common tool for people with auditory processing or hearing issues, conditions which have nothing to do with overall intelligence.” (Washington Post)

Oz Says He Supports Biden On Marijuana Pardons and Opposes Federal Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentences. “Mehmet Oz opposes federal mandatory minimum prison sentences and thinks President Joe Biden made a “rational move” by announcing a broad pardon for certain marijuana users, Oz, the Republican Senate nominee in Pennsylvania, said Thursday in an exclusive interview with NBC News.” (NBC News)

Here Are The Three States That Will Decide Control of the Senate. “Three states are more important than all others — not only because the races are close but because they give one party or the other their best chance to flip a seat.” (The Hill)

President Biden To Visit Pittsburgh On October 20. “It’ll come on the same day he’s set to appear at a reception for Democratic U.S. Senate nominee John Fetterman across the state in Philadelphia.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Governor

2. Why The Nation Should Be Watching Josh Shapiro’s Campaign

Democratic candidate for governor Josh Shapiro has built a double-digit lead over Republican challenger Doug Mastriano by running a low-drama campaign.

Should the lead hold, could this portend bigger things in Shapiro’s future? (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Shapiro Leads Mastriano In Trafalgar Poll. Josh Shapiro has a sizable advantage over Doug Mastriano in the latest Trafalgar Group survey for PA Governor. Shapiro pulled in 52.8 percent to Mastriano’s 43.5 percent, while Matt Hackenburg drew 1.3 percent. (Trafalgar Group)

Ads Target Mastriano For Using Social Media Site Where Tree Of Life Shooter Posted Manifesto. “Gun violence matters to Pennsylvania voters, a gun law reform group said as it announced a $2.1 million media buy targeting Republican nominees for U.S. Senate and governor in the midterm elections.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

State

3. The 1st Congressional District Race

“This is the first in our series highlighting the U.S. House of Representatives races in the Commonwealth. Today – the 1st Congressional District race between Brian Fitzpatrick and Ashley Ehasz.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

PA-07: Wild, Scheller Talk Foreign Affairs, Hate Crimes at Jewish Federation Forum. “At a Thursday night forum hosted by the Lehigh Valley Jewish Federation, congressional candidates Susan Wild and Lisa Scheller detailed how they would tackle the rise of antisemitic hate crimes and instability in the Middle East if elected this November.” (Morning Call)

PA-10: Shamaine Daniels Makes Her Case To Replace Scott Perry. “Shamaine Daniels on Thursday fielded questions from PennLive staff as well as community members on topics impacting residents of the 10th U.S. House district.” (PennLive)

PA-10: Scott Perry, In The Center Of a Jan. 6 Storm, Insists He’s a Simple Man. “Perry’s actions leading up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and his work behind the scenes to undermine the 2020 election, have taken the spotlight away from his previous work on conservative causes.” (York Dispatch)

PA-11: Candidates To Appear On This Week In Pennsylvania. “Two candidates for the Pennsylvania 11th Congressional District participated in a special edition of This Week in Pennsylvania.” (WHTM)

• Your Guide to the 11th District Race. (York Daily Record)

PA-12: Democrats Seek to Address Confusion Over “Mike Doyle.” “Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle had to announce his retirement — again — Thursday afternoon in an effort to head off confusion about who exactly is on the ballot this fall for the seat he has long held in Congress.” (WESA)

Around The Commonwealth

Kathy Barnette Slams GOP ‘Elites,’ Calls Mehmet Oz ‘Lesser of Two Evils,’ Will Vote For Him. “Kathy Barnette, who took heat from Fox News before finishing third in May’s primary for the U.S. Senate, is still angry about it. She has plenty to say about Sean Hannity in particular.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Political Yard Signs: 7 Takeaways From Readers. “Political signs have First Amendment protections, but some say they’re an outdated way to reach voters and provoke neighborhood conflict.” (Patch)

Barriers Remain For PA Voters, Report Shows. “Pennsylvania voters face higher barriers to casting a ballot than most other states, according to a nonpartisan study published in the Election Law Journal.” (Axios Philadelphia)

PA Counties Prepare For a Marathon Mail-In Ballot Count To Earn Their Share of New State Election Money. “County boards will have to prove that their workers processed and counted all mail-in ballots starting on the Nov. 8 election day without stopping – or they’ll forfeit the money.” (WITF)

State Senate Races

• SD 16: Coleman and Pinsley Clash On Education, Abortion and Other Issues, But Share Unease On Allentown State Hospital Plan. (Morning Call)
• SD 24: The Race To Represent The 24th Senatorial District. (Reading Eagle)

State House Races

• HD 26: Candidates Answer Questions On Issues. (Pottstown Mercury)
• HD 74: Questions For Dan Williams. (Unionville Times)
• HD 147: Candidates Answer Questions On Issues. (Pottstown Mercury)
• HD 158: Questions For Christina Sappey. (Unionville Times)
• HD 160: Environmental Activist Battling Former Federal Prosecutor. (Delco Times)

Opinion

• Chamber Dinner Showcases Best of PA. (Luke Bernstein)
• Philly Needs to Enact Its Own Gun Laws. We Sued Harrisburg To Let That Happen. (Ben Geffen and Mimi McKenzie)
• Dr. Oz Is Not a Carpet-Bagger. (Anthony J. Constantini)
• Their Election Denier Is Your Election Denier. (Quentin Young)
• A Love Letter To Philly, From a Criminal. (Patty-Pat Kozlowski)
• For Fetterman, It’s Not That He’s Ill, But Trying To Hide It (Christine Flowers)
• Legislative Negligence Nearly Deadly (Times-Tribune)