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September 1: Philadelphia Freedom

Hello Thursday. And welcome to September.

PA Weather
Pittsburgh | Sunny, 84
State College | Sunny, 80
Philadelphia | Sunny, 87

PA Sports
Phillies (73-58) | Arizona, W, 18-2 | FRI vs. SF, 10:15
Pirates (49-81) | Milwaukee, L, 6-1 | FRI vs. Toronto, 6:35
Union (16-4-9) | Atlanta United, W, 4-1 | SAT vs. Red Bulls, 7:00
Penn State (0-0) | THU vs. Purdue, 8:00
Pitt (0-0) | THU vs. West Virginia, 7:00
Temple (0-0) | FRI vs. Duke, 7:30

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Top Story

1. Fetterman Say Stroke Could Influence Debate Plans With Oz

John Fetterman’s stroke recovery could influence his plans for future debates with Republican nominee Mehmet Oz.

The campaign for the Democratic lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth says the mid-May stroke has complicated his ability to engage in verbal conversations.

“We are working to figure out what a fair debate would look like with the lingering impacts of the auditory processing in mind,” Fetterman campaign strategist Rebecca Katz. “To be absolutely clear, the occasional issues he is having with auditory processing have no bearing on his ability to do the job as senator. John is healthy and fully capable of showing up and doing the work.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Fetterman Campaign Says Stroke Recovery Factors Into Fall Debate Plans. “Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman’s Senate campaign said Wednesday that his stroke recovery, which has complicated his ability to engage in verbal conversations, could influence his plans for debates with Republican nominee Mehmet Oz in one of this fall’s highest-stakes races.” (Washington Post)

  • John Fetterman, in First National Interview Since Stroke, Opens Up About Health Issues and Attacks From Mehmet Oz (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

 

Mehmet Oz Calls Abortion ‘Murder’ During the PA Republican Senate Primary, Recording Shows. “Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz called abortion “murder” during a campaign event in May, according to a newly revealed audio recording, using harsher language with conservative supporters than he typically has on the campaign trail.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Susquehanna Poll: Fetterman Holds Five-Point Lead on Oz, 49-44. “Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Polling and Research released its latest poll on the Keystone State’s Senate race and it shows Democrat John Fetterman with a five-point lead over Republican Mehmet Oz.” (PoliticsPA)

 

Washington

2. Biden To Address Threats to Democracy in Philadelphia Speech

“When President Biden travels to Philadelphia on Thursday, he will turn his attention to the threat to American democracy, the very issue he said drove him to run for the presidency in the first place.

More than a year and a half after Mr. Biden pledged during his inauguration to “restore the soul and to secure the future of America,” he still believes democracy is in peril.

White House officials said Mr. Biden is expected to use the prime-time speech to take direct aim at the Republican Party as Democrats fight to retain their hold on Congress in the midterm elections in November.” (New York Times)

Related

Unfinished Business: Biden Sharpens His Attacks on Trumpism. “The president is set to use a primetime address Thursday to frame the upcoming midterm elections as part of an ongoing battle for the “soul of the nation” — a reprise of his 2020 campaign theme that he’s now using to cast the current stakes in as dire terms as those that sent him to the Oval Office two years ago.” (Associated Press)

  • Biden Set to Address ‘Battle For The Soul of The Nation’ (Voice of America)
  • Biden Expected to Deliver Dark Remarks Thursday Portraying His Political Opposition As a Threat to Democracy (Fox News)

 

Governor

3. Republican Endorsements of Shapiro Could Give Conservatives Cover to Reject Mastriano, Analysts Say

“Since July, more than a dozen prominent Republicans, including two former congressmen, and a former secretary of homeland security, have crossed partisan lines to endorse Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro.

Implicit in their approval of Shapiro’s experience as a legislator and attorney general, policy positions and bipartisan accomplishments is a repudiation of Republican nominee Doug Mastriano, who surprised party leaders with a commanding victory in the crowded May primary.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Related

Self-Proclaimed Prophets and QAnon Conspiracy Theorists: What We Know About Mastriano’s Campaign. “At the core of Doug Mastriano’s opaque, unusual campaign for governor are a group of allies and advisors who include subscribers to outlandish conspiracy theories, self-described prophets, and people who tried to help President Donald Trump overturn the 2020 election.” (WHYY)

Mastriano Defended Wearing a Confederate Uniform As Shapiro Called Him ‘Unfit’ to be PA Governor. “State Sen. Doug Mastriano said this week that criticism of his appearance in a photograph while wearing a Civil War Confederate Army uniform is proof Democrats “have nothing else to run on” as they try to stop the Republican from becoming Pennsylvania governor.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

 

Around the Commonwealth

McCarthy To Give Prebuttal to Biden In Scranton Speech. “House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will counter a planned prime-time address from President Biden on Thursday with a speech ahead of time — in Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pa. ” (The Hill)

  • Why Is NEPA Such a Hotbed For Political Rallies? (WNEP)

 

Attack Ad Charging Candidate With Pollution Taken Off The Air. “An ad from the environmental advocacy group LCV Victory Fund targeting Lisa Scheller, the Republican running in Pennsylvania’s 7th District, was taken off the air Wednesday after her campaign said it contained false allegations about Scheller’s company causing pollution.” (Roll Call)

Can 3rd Party Candidates Win Office in Bucks County? Why It’s An Uphill Fight. “Life as a third-party candidate is one of working on a shoestring budget and trying to convince voters of the merits of their platform.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

 

Commentary

  • Here’s What’s Likely to Decide the PA Races for U.S. Senate and Governor (John Baer)
  • John Fetterman Effectively Admits He’s Isn’t Fit For The Senate (Zachary Faria)
  • Running On Crime: In Distorting Fetterman’s Record, Oz Resorts to Fear-Mongering (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
  • Biden Must Adopt a Pro-Immigrant Vision of America (Andy Kang)
  • Keep An Eye on the Independents This Year in PA (David Thornburgh)
  • Pennsylvanians Deserve Fetterman-Oz Debate (Tribune-Review)
  • Can Fetterman ‘Pull a Biden’ And Stay Hidden Until November? (Dwight Weidman)
  • Doug Mastriano’s Choice of Civil War Garb Confirms What a Rebel He Is (Paul Muschick)
  • Bipartisan Education Reforms Set Up Students For Success (Sen. Scott Martin)

2 Responses

  1. LOL no self respecting Republican would ever vote for Shapiro.

    That should read “Two dozen former politicians pretending to be Republicans but actually are Democrats endorsed the Democrat they’d always vote for”

  2. Dung Mastriano reply to offered crudites by NJ Oz. WTF is that? We don’t eat tofu in PA.





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