Two words: game change. Tom Smith, the coal industry veteran from Armstrong County, is on the road. The Senate hopeful commenced the next phase of the campaign on Tuesday, in his brand new custom tour bus.

She’s back. Peg Luksik, the perennial candidate who most recently challenged Pat Toomey in the 2010 GOP primary for U.S. Senate, has formed a super PAC to boost 2012 Senate hopeful Sam Rohrer.

Senate hopeful Sam Rohrer has signed onto the tax plan of one-time GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain. The proposal would scrap the current U.S. tax code in favor of a 9 percent corporate tax, a 9 percent personal income tax, and a 9 percent national sales tax.

The Columbia County Republican Committee voted Thursday night to back Sam Rohrer for U.S. Senate. The unusual move comes in opposition to the PAGOP’s endorsement of Steve Welch. They also endorsed Frank Pinto for Auditor.

Steve Forbes, the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media and a GOP presidential hopeful in 1996 and 2006, has endorsed Senate hopeful Tom Smith. He also backed Pat Toomey during his 2004 primary against Sen. Arlen Specter.

Sam Rohrer is the strongest candidate in the five-man Republican field to take on Bob Casey, but so far that isn’t saying much. Casey leads Rohrer 49 to 34 percent, and all of his prospective opponents all by double digits.

The Gun Owners of America’s political arm is backing Sam Rohrer in the primary for U.S. Senate. The group praised Rohrer’s work during his 18-year tenure as a state Rep.