The PA Leadership Conference announced today that presidential candidate Herman Cain would keynote their annual event known as Pennsylvania’s CPAC.

Our coverage of the election results in the 11th Senate District have generated a great deal of debate today. Here’s why we said it is a big win for Democrats.

Within minutes of Larry Medaglia conceding, PA Democrats were thanking Governor Tom Corbett and calling the election a referendum on his bare-boned budget proposal.

Democrat Judy Schwank has won the special election to replace State Senator Mike O’Pake, and Democrats are happy to start off 2011 with a big win.

Turnout in the City of Reading is low by all accounts, which could give pause to the campaign of Democrat Judy Schwank. Both campaigns are paying poll watchers in Latino neighborhoods.

The Governor received a less-than-encouraging welcome in Pittsburgh over the weekend. When Corbett came out to flip the coin before an arena football game, he was greeted by “a seemingly never ending chorus of boos.”

Today is the day. Berks County voters head to the polls to choose a replacement for the late state Senator Mike O’Pake. Will Democrats turn the page on 2010, or will Republicans continue their statewide streak? We will soon find out.

Larry Medaglia’s campaign has backed out of the four largest local television markets and will not be airing television ads in the final day of the campaign, PoliticsPA has learned. Consultants on both sides of the aisle are reading the writing on the wall.

Judy Schwank’s supporters tell everyone it’s a no-brainer, Mike O’Pake would back Schwank for his now-vacant seat in the PA Senate. The most recent campaign finance reports would seem to validate that claim. O’Pake’s committee contributed the bulk of its cash on hand, $75,000, to Schwank on February 3rd.

Governor Tom Corbett’s budget plan for the 2011-2012 year is creating a stir. The $27.3 billion plan certainly stays in line with GOP-encouraged fiscal policy such as avoiding tax increases and instead cutting spending, and PA Republicans have been vocal in their support.