John Vernon knows he has a steep climb to the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, but he suffers from no lack of energy. His campaign this week launched his first phase of his Jobs and Economic Plan, his “100 Businesses in 100 Days” tour.

Alex Roarty of the National Journal reports that the former Pa. Rep, and 2010 gubernatorial candidate has been hinting for months that he is on the verge of announcing his candidacy.

Sen. Pat Toomey is staying out of the intra-party struggle brewing in western Pennsylvania. The Senator’s office said that although he attended a fundraiser for Rep. Tim Murphy Thursday morning, he would not take sides in his upcoming primary.

Here are the 20 State Reps most helped, and most hurt, by the preliminary redistricting plan.

Mitt Romney’s high-power Pa. fundraising team will open the doors for the presidential hopeful at a $10,000-per-plate dinner this evening at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia. Critics of the former Massachusetts Governor are preparing a different kind of welcome.

A top 20 list; Biden and Romney in PA; more redistricting info; enviros take on Altmire; Obama’s mixed poll numbers; and updates on the Allegheny and judicial races.

Here’s a list of the municipalities in every preliminary Pa. House and Senate district.

The League of Conservation Voters and the National Resources Defense Council Action Fund plan to spend $350,000 on an ad indicting Rep. Jason Altmire’s environmental voting record, the groups announced today.

We mean that headline literally. According to a Franklin & Marshall poll released today, President Obama holds a significant lead over each of his Republican opponents but by himself has upside-down re-election numbers.

The Allegheny Executive campaigns unveiled their closing arguments this week, and both of them are about Rick Fitzgerald.