Republican Rep. Lou Barletta holds a significant financial advantage over Democrat William Vinsko Jr, in the the race for the 11th congressional district. But in the third quarter, Vinsko racked in the cash and nearly equaled Barletta’s haul.

Frank Rizzo Jr., who is in his final few months on Philadelphia City Council, has decided to leave the Republican party — a change prompted by a spat with a fellow Republican on Council.

Rep. Lou Barletta’s town hall hiatus is over, and protesters are at it again. Here’s a bit of the coverage of a raucous Monday meeting in Barletta’s home base in Hazleton.

2011 Campaigns turn to TV; Casey’s bundler blunder; Murphy raises $200K; Barletta’s protesters are back; and the Harrisburg takeover almost finished.

Rep. Tim Murphy pulled in over $200,000 in political contributions over the last three months, and has over $873,000 cash on hand.

The Shapiro/Richards campaign this afternoon unveiled their first television ad, a 30 second split negative/positive piece that says Republicans Bruce Castor and Jenny Brown, “left the door open for a tax increase.”

Sen. Pat Toomey isn’t letting his position on the supercommittee stop him from fundraising. The Pennsylvania Republican, who has held several fundraisers while on the panel, is upping the ante next month with his 50thbirthday celebration on Nov. 16 at Sonoma.

By a 177-18 vote, the House of Representatives voted to concur on amendments to a Senate bill that would allow the governor to declare a fiscal emergency in Harrisburg and could lead to a receiver being appointed to take control of the city government.

Republican Brian O’Neill in on TV in his effort to win re-election to City Council from the northeast Philadelphia-based 10th district.

The Independence Hall Tea Party PAC endorsed a challenger to Sen. Bob Casey: Democrat Brain Kelly of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The Tuesday announcement occurred at Independence Mall in Philadelphia where Kelly officially declared his 2012 candidacy.