Down – Joe Sestak for allowing the controversy over the earmark to the Thomas Paine Foundation non-profit, owned by the same individual who runs New Way Energy LLC, a for-profit company to reach a boiling point. Thursday’s revelation that he misspoke to reporters earlier in the week just adds more fuel to the fire at a time when the conversation had seemed to be shifting to Toomey’s fiscal record (Social Security, corporate taxes).

Up – Manan Trivedi brought in the big guns this week, including Sen. Casey, U.S. Rep. Wasserman-Schultz, an up and comer in the Democratic party, and, most notably, DNC Chair Tim Kaine and Vice-Chair U.S. Rep. Mike Honda from California. The 6th District Democrat faces an uphill battle against GOP incumbent Jim Gerlach, but this week was a signal he remains very much in the game.

Up — Tim Solobay. The Democratic Washington County state representative turned state Senate candidate had a good fundraising swing through Philadelphia recently as he tries to replace retiring Democratic incumbent Barry Stout. Democrats need to hold onto every seat they can in the Senate, and Solobay is making sure they do even in a tough year for the party.

Down/Up — Dan Onorato. The Democratic gubernatorial nominee likely found a winning issue this week when he touted his support of aseverance tax on natural gas extraction — it’s something likely popular with Democrats and moderates alike, particularly in the southeast. The bad news? Polls continue to show Republican opponent Tom Corbett’s lead building, despite what Onorato might say.

Up — The budget. August tax revenue in Pennsylvania came in above estimate for the first time in nearly two years, Governor Ed Rendell reported this week. With the state counting on revenue growth in this year’s budget, it’s a welcome sign for a state facing looming billion-dollar deficits.