Lieberman: Clinton ignores handwriting on the wall Her narrow win in Indiana and his double-digit win in North Carolina left Clinton even further behind in pledged delegates and the popular vote. It leaves zero possibility, her campaign acknowledged, that she can win enough delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. And still she trucks on. Party leaders turn up heat on superdelegates
Clinton vows to buck odds, stay in the race Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, $6.4 million poorer but still rich in tenacity, pledged yesterday to remain in the presidential race "until we have a nominee. But for many other Democrats, the key question for the long Democratic battle had shifted from who to when, after an election night Tuesday that put Illinois Sen. Barack Obama still farther ahead of the New York senator, whose nomination had once seemed all but inevitable.
GOP lagging far behind, Delay says "The left has been able to build a very impressive coalition," said the former House majority leader and Republican from Texas in an interview at the Holiday Inn in Green Tree on Wednesday night. "It's much easier for Democrats to come together than for Republicans. Democrats are collectivists by nature."
Feds ‘pursuing’ Dougherty Federal prosecutors said in a court filing yesterday that they are "pursuing an ongoing investigation" of electricians-union honcho John Dougherty, who they said is a "subject" of a criminal investigation. As a result, they said, a federal judge should not grant him immunity to testify in the upcoming trial of electrical contractor Donald "Gus" Dougherty Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Gray said yesterday that granting John Dougherty immunity to testify in the case could jeopardize any future investigation and prosecution of the union leader. Judge urged to reject Dougherty immunity
Primaries fail to end unsettled campaign Mixed results from North Carolina and Indiana yesterday mean the Democratic presidential race will continue, but along a road that appears to offer diminishing traction for the tenacious but trailing campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sen. Barack Obama won a big victory in North Carolina, dashing Mrs. Clinton's hopes for what she called "a game-changer" in the protracted competition. Baer: A fair way to choose between them
Gay marriage amendment likely dead for year An effort to add an amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution banning gay marriage was dealt a major setback in the state Senate on Tuesday. The Senate was expected to consider legislation to limit marriage to a union between one man and one woman, and not recognize any other "functional equivalent of marriage," such as civil unions.
Fumo says he wants to ban most divorces Yesterday, the state senator from South Philadelphia, who is nearing retirement and faces trial on public-corruption charges, said he would propose legislation to "outlaw the dissolution of most marriages in Pennsylvania.”. Last month, Fumo suggested that most Pennsylvania state legislators would vote to make slavery legal if they could cast their ballots anonymously.
Oprah Winfrey will back revised dog law in Pennsylvania Winfrey is expected to read excerpts from a letter Gov. Rendell sent her last month seeking support for legislation to overhaul the state's dog law, according to individuals who participated in a Monday conference call with producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Rendell speech annoys legislators At a ceremony honoring Pennsylvania police officers slain in the line of duty last year, Gov. Ed Rendell seized the bully pulpit to make a renewed call for gun-control measures. With several gun-control opponents in the Legislature looking on, the governor declared it almost hypocritical for elected officials to attend the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day service when they haven't, in his mind, done everything possible to protect police officers. Officer’s death reignites fuse on gun-control debate
Nutter: NRA should apologize to slain cop’s family "I think it's insane," Nutter said. "The fact that we put forward a piece of legislation to prevent the sale and use and transfer of assault weapons and have a Philadelphia police officer assaulted on the streets with one, I think makes it pretty clear to anyone who is confused about this issue that there's no reason for any citizen, any person other than in law enforcement or in the military to have such a weapon."
Pa. Senate set to vote on gay-marriage ban The stage is set for the full Pennsylvania Senate to vote on a constitutional amendment that would outlaw same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state, although chances appear slim it will gain traction in the House. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the measure in an 18-8 vote yesterday after a 30-minute debate. Moments after it passed, more than 100 people rallied in the Capitol against the amendment.
Bonanza from lease of turnpike not so big? Roy Kienitz, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Ed Rendell, said the administration expects forthcoming proposals to be "at the lower end" of estimates that have ranged from $12 billion to $18 billion in recent months. That's far less than the $30 billion figure bandied about by some Democratic and Republican leaders only a year or so ago.
Democrats hunt for votes on airwaves on eve of vote Sen. Barack Obama spent the first 18 minutes on NBC's "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert defending the timing of his decision to break from his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah S. Wright, while on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton pushed back at criticisms of her proposal to suspend the federal gasoline tax for summertime drivers. Democrats at a crossroads again
Bill seeks to restrict robo calls After the state's most-watched primary election in modern memory, the Senate has passed a bill that would curb the use of robo calls for political purposes. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware), would create a do-not-call list - much like the one already in existence for telemarketers - for automated calls in political campaigns.
What’s the state of Pa.’s image Nearly two decades later, the memorably wicked words of James Carville live on in the Pennsylvania psyche. You know, the Alabama thing. The scarlet A. It's been at least 17 years since the acerbic political operative branded the state as two metropolitan areas - Pittsburgh and Philadelphia - with "Alabama" in between. Yet some pundits still dial up Carville's old chestnut whenever the political spotlight shines on Pennsylvania. Enough already, some say.
Baer: Here’s a thought: Elected officials start paying for their own gas Unless or until elected officials take action to bring down obscene (compared to oil company profits) gas prices, let's stop allowing elected officials to charge their gas to us. Oh, you didn't know or maybe forgot that you pay your honorables' gas bills? You do.
McCain steps on the gas in Pa. visit Sen. John McCain ridiculed Sen. Barack Obama yesterday for failing to endorse proposals put forward by himself and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to suspend the federal gasoline tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "There are some experts who view it as the end of Western civilization as we know it," he said of the plan's critics, who include the Democratic candidate.
DNC chairman under Bill Clinton: Unite behind Obama A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to "heal the rift in our party" and unite behind the Illinois senator.Joe Andrew, who was Democratic National Committee chairman from 1999-2001, planned a news conference Thursday in his hometown of Indianapolis to urge other Hoosiers to support Obama in Tuesday's primary, perhaps the most important contest left in the White House race.
Pa. Senate GOP caucus offers alternative health care plan Democrats and Republicans both say they want more Pennsylvanians to have health insurance, but that's about the extent of their agreement on the issue.Lawmakers are at loggerheads over how to improve the cost, quality and availability of health care.The Senate Policy Committee's Republican caucus held a hearing today to vet alternatives to the one House Democrats passed last month.
Rendell delays announcing private bids for Turnpike Gov. Ed Rendell won't meet his deadline of today for making public up to 14 bids from private firms seeking to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Two weeks ago he said he planned to release the billion-dollar bids by the end of April, but that deadline has been "extended for a short period, a few days, maybe a week or two, but not a significant delay,'' his aide, Chuck Ardo, said today.
Backers, foes of gay marriage collide at Capitol Lawyers, religious leaders and advocates for gays and lesbians faced off yesterday in one of the most contentious and highly charged Senate Appropriations Committee hearings in recent history. At issue is a proposal to strengthen the state's ban on gay marriage with a constitutional amendment and a provision preventing other kinds of unions that are functionally equivalent to marriage.
Senators write USAirways; keep Pa in mind U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Philadelphia, and Bob Casey Jr., D-Scranton, sent a joint letter to US Airways’ top executive Tuesday urging him to be mindful of Pennsylvania when brokering a potential merger with United Airlines. The Associated Press reported Monday that US Airways was within two weeks of announcing a merger agreement with United in a deal that could create the world’s largest airline.
Judge won't dismiss Wecht's case on double-jeopardy claim Legal fur flew once again yesterday in the Dr. Cyril H. Wecht case, this time over a judge's refusal to bar a retrial of the former Allegheny County coroner on double-jeopardy grounds. Double jeopardy is the constitutional principle that a defendant cannot be tried twice on the same charges, but it generally applies to acquittals.
Murtha rival wins GOP nod as write-in U.S. Rep. John Murtha will have a Republican challenger on the November ballot after all. William Russell of Johnstown received enough votes in Cambria County alone to win the GOP nomination for the 12th Congressional District, an official tally shows. There’s no indication that Murtha, a Johnstown Democrat, got enough GOP write-ins in the sprawling district to top what Russell received here.
Primary Concerns Over Rendell's Hillary Boosting "He became the chief fundraiser, the chief strategist, the chief scheduler, the chief political director, the chief surrogate," said Stephen Miskin, press secretary for House Minority Leader Sam Smith and a former staffer for GOP Gov. Tom Ridge. "It raises very strong ethical questions."
Pa. Senate holds highly charged hearing on gay marriage Lawyers, religious leaders and advocates for gays and lesbians are facing off this morning in one of the most highly charged Senate Appropriations Committee hearings in recent memory. At issue is a proposal to strengthen the state's ban on gay marriage by constitutionalizing it and adding a provision to prevent other kinds of same-sex unions that are functionally equivalent to marriage.
Panel closer to voting on state smoking ban but not there yet A House-Senate conference committee claims it's getting closer to adopting a bill that would ban smoking in most Pennsylvania workplaces, but it can't seem to close the deal. The deeply divided six-member committee had planned to meet today to vote on compromise legislation to prohibit people from lighting up in most workplaces and public places.
In DC yesterday, Obama's "uncle" defends his inflammatory remarks on 9/11, AIDS and other topics
George F. Will: The Wright stuff
Wright's Voice Could Spell Doom for Obama
Wecht jurors surprised prosecutors seek retrial With Dr. Cyril H. Wecht's lawyer looking on, five of the jurors in the famous pathologist's mistrial made a group media appearance yesterday and said they favored acquittal on most of the 41 counts brought by the government. On KDKA Radio and later at a meeting with other news organizations, the jurors said they were split 8-3 in favor of acquittal on 27 fraud counts.
Congressman Tim Murphy helps Western Pennsylvania Veterans
Pentagon says yes to new commissary in Moon The Pentagon’s Commissary Operating Board voted Monday to support building a new commissary in Moon Township, said U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-18, Upper St. Clair Township. “It’s no longer an issue of if a new commissary will be built in the region. Now it’s a matter of when,” Murphy said in a phone interview.
Kanjorski bill seeks to rein in big oil Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, was in town Monday to announce his introduction of House Resolution 5800, the Consumer Reasonable Energy Price Protection Act of 2008. The bill, introduced on the House floor April 15, would allow the federal government to tax windfall oil and gas profits resulting from historically high oil and gas prices that average Americans struggle to afford, he said.
Dean says either Clinton or Obama must drop out in June Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Monday that either Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama must drop out of the Democratic presidential race after the June primaries in order to unify the party by the convention and win the election in November. But Dean didn't say which candidate should drop out, only that it should happen after primary voters have been to the polls.
Early Superdelegate Decision Could Divide Party
How McCain lost in Pennsylvania Though ignored by every channel I surfed, there actually was a Republican Party primary on Tuesday, open only to registered Republicans. And while it was superfluous in determining that party's nominee, 220,000 Pennsylvania Republicans (out of their total turnout of 807,000) were moved to cast ballots for Mike Huckabee or, more numerously, Ron Paul. That's more voters than the margin (215,000) that separated Hillary Clinton and Obama.
Custom shirts fit political brouhahas to a T Sen. Barack Obama's remarks to San Francisco fund-raisers about bitter, small-town Pennsylvanians -- who "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations" -- have contributed to the exponentially expanding political merchandising realm. In the past few weeks, two bitter-inspired Obama T-shirts -- one pro, one con -- have cropped up in the aftermath of the controversy.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Voting Patterns When one-fifth of Democratic primary voters admit taking race into account in the ballot booth, it shows the nation still has social hurdles to overcome. If a candidate's race is as important to some voters as his or her views on the economy, or the cost of health care, then something is being lost in the debate over how to move the country forward.
Smoking ban for state heats up After a month hiatus, a House-Senate conference committee will try again to craft a compromise bill on limiting smoking indoors in Pennsylvania. If the six members, who include Sen. Robert Mellow, D-Peckville, and Rep. Robert Belfanti, D-Northumberland, succeed, they will present their compromise to both chambers for a yes/no vote.
Democrats move on to electability argument Forget the debate over the war in Iraq, the economy, or health-care centers. These days, the battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton is mostly about who has the better chance to win in the fall. Polman: Hard to believe the Democrats could lose
Elmer Smith: Democrats must unite no matter who wins By the end of this series of primaries, hundreds of thousands of people will have registered as Democrats for the first time. I wonder if they have any idea what they've signed up for.
GOP faces uphill battle to reclaim defectors State GOP Chairman Rob Gleason said the party aims to call every Republican who switched parties in the primary, as well as the nearly 950,000 registered voters who remain unaffiliated with either major party, and make the argument that Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee, reflects Pennsylvania values more than either Democratic candidate.
Hearing on Philadelphia gun control laws postponed Common Pleas Court Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan rescheduled the hearing after a telephone conference this week with lawyers for the city and National Rifle Association, according to court records.
Phyrillas: Perzel believes he'll return as Speaker next January Knowing what you know now - the ouster of 55 incumbent lawmakers in 2006 and at least 28 incumbents in 2008, the loss of the Republican majority in the House and your demotion from Speaker in 2007 - would you still have pushed for the pay raise? Unflinching, Perzel said, "Yes...Absolutely."
Morning Call: Obama’s vision is reason to nominate him Sen. Clinton has made much of her ''ability to lead'' on day one in the Oval Office. Past experience like hers is one thing, but leadership also depends on having a vision, plans to pursue that vision, and an ability to inspire others to follow. On those grounds, Sen. Barack Obama is well-suited to lead, and The Morning Call recommends his nomination in the Democratic primary.
Obama calls ‘bitter’ flap divisive Obama refused to back down Sunday night, defending the statements to the crowd of several hundred union members gathered at the I.W. Abel Hall. He admitted, though, that he might have chosen the words he spoke at a San Francisco fundraiser more carefully. Casey: 'Every campaign has ups and downs'
Candidates omit issues, experts say With few easy solutions, none of the candidates is talking straight with the American public about many of the decisions that the next president will face, particularly when it comes to Iraq, national security experts said. Iraq will cast a shadow over American foreign policy for years, foreign policy analysts said.
Clinton, Obama share views of faith at Messiah forum Although the two Democratic presidential candidates did not appear on stage at the same time, they faced questions posed by leaders from across the political and religious spectrum who said they hoped to have a discussion that goes beyond divisive issues such as abortion and gay marriage.
Obama goes on offensive "I've got to say, I'm a little disappointed when I start hearing the exact same talking points out of my Democratic colleague, Hillary Clinton," he said. "She knows better. She knows better. Shame on her. Shame on her. She knows better." Obama camp makes case for no-shows in Philly’s black neighborhoods
Update: Dicker says she’s ‘in it to win it’ Dicker said yesterday that she'd fired her campaign manager, Karim Olaechea, after a series of disagreements on the direction of her campaign - and a conversation with political consultant Larry Ceisler, an adviser to the third candidate in the Senate race, union leader John Dougherty.
Inquirer endorses Farnese in First District With the current state senator headed for trial, Philadelphia can't afford to send Dougherty to Harrisburg. And the candidate with the best chance of defeating the mercurial, influential labor leader in the Democratic primary is Larry Farnese. Post-Gazette: Area Democratic senators taking sides in race for veteran Vince Fumo's seat.
Sources tell PoliticsPA that the Farnese campaign has reached out to The Campaign Group to handle commercials down the stretch. The feeling, sources say, is that the Campaign Group makes the most out of endorsements. No word yet on whether they'll accept. Update: The Campaign Group has denied that anyone from the Farnese campaign contacted them, and has said they have no plans to work on the campaign.
Inquirer endorses McCord for State Treasurer The Bryn Mawr resident has never held elective office and he isn't making campaign promises that can't be kept. He acknowledges that the state may not be able to afford the cost-of-living increases some legislators want for state pensioners and retired teachers.
Smerconish: Why the GOP lost its grip on Phila. suburbs It's not that the party isn't conservative enough to win the suburbs; it is that the party is too conservative and has lost touch with a suburban constituency.
Barack Obama may lose support in Philadelphia over 'street money' Fourteen months into a campaign that has the feel of a movement, Sen. Barack Obama has collided with the gritty political traditions of Philadelphia, where ward bosses love their candidates, but also expect them to pay up.The dispute centers on the dispensing of "street money," a long-standing Philadelphia ritual in which candidates deliver cash to the city's Democratic operatives in return for getting out the vote.
Peterson endorses Thompson in 5th district race Glenn Thompson, one of nine Republcian candidates for the 5th Congressional District, is being endorsed by retiring U.S. Rep. John Peterson this morning. At a news conference planned for 10 a.m. at Toftrees, Peterson was expected to say that Thompson is the most qualified candidate to succeed him in Congress. Peterson is retiring at year’s end after 12 years representing the 5th Congressional District.
Pa. Treasury primary race is mostly low-profile With Pennsylvania's presidential primary capturing all the attention, it might be easy for Democratic voters to overlook a four-way race for the party's nod to be the next state treasurer. It's an obscure job, but one with great responsibility that includes investing billions in tax dollars. Post-Gazette: Cordisco is Democrats' best bet for treasurer
Pa. race may be a tale of two cities Steelers or Eagles? Pro-football loyalties are not the only differences that divide Pennsylvania's two big cities. In Democratic politics, the contrasts between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are so sharp that they might decide the outcome of the state's presidential primary April 22. The Pittsburgh area, according to polls and politicos-in-the-know, is Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton territory. The Philadelphia area is the Keystone State's biggest stronghold for Sen. Barack Obama.
McCain, Clinton, Obama running neck and neck, poll shows Republican Sen. John McCain has erased Sen. Barack Obama's 10-point advantage in a head-to-head matchup, leaving him essentially tied with both Democratic candidates in an Associated Press-Ipsos national poll released Thursday.
GOP seeks lost sheep
Pennsylvania Republicans
yesterday outlined a
strategy to reverse the
tide of voters
abandoning their ranks
in favor of the
Democrats.
Party leaders said they
will kick off a
statewide
voter-registration drive
on primary day — April
22 — in a year that the
intensely competitive
race for the Democratic
presidential nomination
has prompted many
Republicans to switch
parties.
Checks to legislators probed The Pennsylvania attorney general is investigating a former legislator's claim that he and three other lawmakers received $5,000 checks at a 2005 meeting from a company owned by a casino owner currently facing perjury charges.
Congressman John Peterson will announce who he will endorse for the 5th Congressional District at 10am on Friday, April 11 in State College.
Primary candidates court Catholics in Pa. Political scientists say Sens. Clinton and Obama's understanding of Pennsylvania's 3.8 million Catholics and their tradition is critical in the state's April 22 primary. Among likely Democratic primary voters statewide, Clinton's lead has slipped to just 6 percentage points in a Quinnipiac University poll out Tuesday. She lags behind Obama in Philadelphia and among blacks, men and voters younger than 45 in the state.
MONTGOMERY NEWSPAPERS
EXCLUSIVE: Obama
continues push for
Pennsylvania
Despite poll numbers
suggesting the race is
getting tighter day by
day, Sen. Barack Obama
still considers Sen.
Hillary Clinton the
prohibitive favorite to
win Pennsylvania's April
22 primary.
In an exclusive
one-on-one interview
Wednesday with
Montgomery Newspapers,
Obama said that Clinton
also has the advantage
of being better known in
this part of the country
because she is a senator
from the neighboring
state of New York.
Clinton ad attacks Obama on funds AS BARACK OBAMA campaigned again in Philadelphia's suburbs yesterday, Hillary Clinton ran the first true attack ad of the Pennsylvania primary.
From The Stone Zone: Long-time Republican operative Roger Stone has been credited with having a role in the demise of NY Governor Eliot Spitzer and Clinton campaign manager Mark Penn … is Chris Matthews next in his sights?
Matthews weighs Senate bid in Pa MSNBC TV star Chris Matthews has been quietly sounding out Democrats across Pennsylvania about seeking the Democratic nomination to oppose Senator Arlen Specter, who shows no signs of slowing down or retiring, in 2010.
Robert Novak: Stone Predicting Spitzer
What did Roger Stone know before Spitzer scandal broke?
Clinton dips in state polls, threatening her viability "She's getting dangerously close to the edge to losing this," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "It is a game of horseshoes, and close for Obama is a victory for him."
State GOP leader urges voters to switch back after primary With Republicans leaving the party in droves and re-registering as Democrats so they can vote in the April 22 presidential primary, state Republican Chairman Robert Gleason is urging them to come back to the GOP after the primary. He said he understands that many Republicans have switched parties in recent weeks so they can vote for either Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
GOP didn't have to lose voters, clout
Seven Pa. superdelegates keep pick secret The uncommitted congressional superdelegates are Rep. Jason Altmire, of McCandless; Rep. Bob Brady, of Philadelphia; Rep. Chris Carney, of Dimock Township; Rep. Mike Doyle, of Forest Hills; and Rep. Tim Holden, of St. Clair. The others are William George, president of the state AFL-CIO, and former Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff, a Democratic National Committee member.
The Gospel, According to Luke In a makeshift auditorium on the banks of the Monongahela River, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton assembled her team of Pennsylvania power brokers. They sat in the front row behind a velvet rope, dressed in dark suits and waving at the crowd. There was the Pennsylvania governor, the county commissioner, a handful of major chief executives...and a kid they called Luke.
Candidates' positive ads mask trash-talk reality Both candidates want to damage the other's popularity, but are afraid to use the weapon that really gets results: the hard-edged, 30-second attack ad with grainy black-and-white images and an announcer reciting the worst things about an opponent. The dilemma is particularly acute for Clinton, who has slipped in Pennsylvania polls and needs to win the state big and to revive her hopes for the nomination.
Clinton airs 5 new ads in Pa Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is targeting Pennsylvania media markets with five new television ads that deliver specific messages to different regional and ethnic audiences. Her campaign began airing the ads Tuesday, three in the expensive Philadelphia market where polls show rival Sen. Barack Obama has been gaining support.
State
lawmakers urge greater
efforts so men, women
get equal pay
Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker
Knoll and more than a
dozen legislators said
yesterday that
Pennsylvania and the
nation must do more to
ensure that women
workers receive pay
equal to men for the
same work.
Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless,
said that according to a
study group called the
National Committee on
Pay Equity, women who
worked full time,
year-round made, on
average, only 59 cents
for every dollar earned
by men in 1963.
Mistrial declared in Wecht case; new trial set for May 27
Pa. leaders rally for pay equity for women Pennsylvania and the nation must do more to ensure that women workers receive pay equal to men for the same work, state government leaders said today. A rally on pay equity at the Capitol featured Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, state Sen. Jane Orie, state Rep. Katharine Watson, a dozen other female legislators -- and three male lawmakers.
Obama cuts into Clinton's base and narrows race Hillary Rodham Clinton's once seemingly indomitable double-digit lead in Pennsylvania that lead supporters to dub the state "Clinton country," has been narrowed to within a touchdown, (minus the extra point). A new Quinnipiac University poll to be released this morning shows the presidential contest between Barack Obama and Clinton has narrowed to a six point race in Pennsylvania.
Legendary Republican "hit man" Roger Stone is at it again. According to the political website Politics1.com, Stone played a role in the downfall of Hillary Clinton's chief Mark Penn.
Bypassing Barletta
Hazleton Mayor Lou
Barletta has invited the
three serious
presidential contenders
to visit Hazleton and
discuss illegal
immigration.He has found
no takers.
Republican
nominee-in-waiting
Arizona Sen. John McCain
said he didn’t have the
time. Neither Democrat,
New York Sen. Hillary
Clinton nor Illinois
Sen. Barack Obama, has
responded to the
request. Is the lack of
response because of the
hot-button immigration
issue,or is it pure
party politics?
Congressional Races Update:
12th District: Murtha rival soldiers on, even off the ballot Although his name has been struck from the April 22 primary ballot, William Russell isn’t giving up. Russell, the GOP candidate attempting to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. John Murtha of Johnstown, participated Monday in a Washington, D.C., press conference with other Iraq War veterans who are running for Congress. They gathered to show their support for U.S. troops and for Gen. David Petraeus, the nation’s top commander in Iraq.
5th District:
Experts weigh in on
election
As 12 candidates race to
forum after forum in the
5th Congressional
District contest, public
policy analysts and a
political science expert
joined in a talk of
their own Monday and
offered contrasting
views on the economy,
energy, the Iraq war and
other issues facing
voters across the
sprawling 17-county
district.
Makeup of 5th District
offers challenges,
opportunities to primary
hopefuls
Candidates evaluate No Child Left Behind
3rd District: Congressional hopefuls agree in general, argue finer points So far, the talk among Democrats has been about having four strong candidates to run against Phil English for his 3rd District Congressional seat in the fall. But it’s close to crunch time, with the April 22 primary just ahead, and at a debate Monday night in Hermitage those candidates fought to show Mercer County who’s strongest.
Pa. voter registration may set record Voter registration for Pennsylvania's presidential primary may set an all-time record. State officials today released updated numbers that show total registration at about 8.3 million -- fewer than 50,000 votes shy of the record set in the last presidential election.
Update: Gun-control opponents rally in Harrisburg Republican talk show host Alan Keyes didn't do too well when he ran for President in 1996 and 2000, or when he ran against Democrat Barack Obama for U.S. senator from Illinois in 2004.But he was clearly the star of a boisterous gun-rights rally held in the Capitol rotunda this morning, as several hundred gun owners, target shooters, hunters and sportsmen from around Pennsylvania sent a clear message to state legislators -- don't interfere with a person's Second Amendment right to bear arms.
In primary, it's not easy being green There's been a lot of discussion as this primary season unwinds about which Democratic presidential candidate has more red state appeal or more blue state appeal, but little chatter about their very real "green" credentials. The views of both Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are many shades more verdant than those of the current inhabitant of the White House on everything from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling (both against it), to alternative energy (both for it), to global warming (both believe it).
Pa. House to consider
prison, gun-control
bills today The
Pennsylvania House is
poised today to consider
bills that would reform
the prison system and
control the sale of
guns.
House Speaker Dennis
O'Brien, a Philadelphia
Republican, was
scheduled to hold a
joint news conference
this morning with
District Attorney Lynne
Abraham to discuss both
proposals.
Clinton, Obama target voters from Pa's 18 to 24 age group Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are hustling for the youth vote in Pennsylvania as if they've never heard this is a state where the old hold sway. Campuses in the cities and mountainsides are alive with political activism, stirred most notably by Obama in student registration drives aimed at replicating his success with young voters dating to the Iowa caucus in January.
John Kerry stumps for Barack Obama in midstate Sen. John Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee, made three stops in central Pennsylvania today to campaign for Barack Obama. "With your help, I won the primary here in Pennsylvania," Kerry said. "With your help, I won the general election here in Pennsylvania. And with your help, we're not going to break this winning streak now."
Backing Obama puts Casey in spotlight They hung out in a bowling alley and a sports bar. They spent hours on Obama's campaign bus, slammed into each other on the basketball court, and teased each other like brothers. They demonstrated such an affection that some members of the traveling party labeled them BFF, the text-message abbreviation for "best friends forever."
Specter basks in spotlight to promote memoir Arlen Specter, 78, in his fifth term and already planning for a sixth, has been diagnosed with a potentially deadly illness at least twice and once nearly died on the operating table. Now he can add another number to his list: 23. Specter's memoir, "Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate," will be No. 23 when the New York Times best-sellers list is released on April 13.
Baer: Obama could actually win this thing (the Pa. primary) BARACK OBAMA had a pretty good week in Pennsylvania. In a state that pollsters and analysts call tailor-made for Hillary Clinton, Obama is seriously challenging the fit. So much so, some wonder if an unraveling's in the offing. One could make a case.
Pumping irony: Obama worked out at GOP stronghold And not just at any gym: at a Trexlertown facility owned by John Brinson, an outspoken Republican firebrand. Democrat Obama hit the treadmill, free weights and barbells, said Brinson, whose 24-7 Fitness Club staff called him to say they had a famous visitor. ''I thought it was an April Fool's joke,'' the free market-favoring gym owner said.
Times-Tribune: Inside the Bill Clinton Fundraiser When you realize that your savings account often holds less than the $2,300 price of admission, there is a tendency to do what dozens of others did Wednesday night - stand across the street behind the police tape and hope to get a glimpse of an ex-president.
Second poll shows Clinton’s Pa. lead shrinking A second statewide poll in as many days shows the race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has tightened. Clinton holds an 11-point lead in Pennsylvania, down three percentage points from mid-February, according to a survey by The Morning Call/Muhlenberg College of 406 likely Democratic voters.
Fumo not backing anyone – officially Gary Tuma, a spokesman for Fumo, said the senator, who is stepping down after 30 years to fight federal corruption charges at a trial in September, would not publicly endorse any candidate. "He has been asked by many people about who his successor should be," Tuma said. "He has compared the candidates, and people can make their own decisions." Daily News: Sources say Fumo is lobbying for Farnese
Ravenstahl, Onorato push city-county merger Luke Ravenstahl and Dan Onorato embarked Thursday on the toughest sales pitch of their political careers: persuading voters that merging city and county governments is the region's springboard to prosperity. "We need bold, decisive and far-reaching change to fundamentally alter our trajectory," Ravenstahl said, lamenting
Roll Call’s Shira Toeplitz reports: The GOP challenger to freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy (D) has raised more than $400,000 so far in his campaign. Retired Marine Corps Officer Tom Manion (R), who entered the race in mid-January, expects his cash-on-hand figure to be about the same. Murphy’s campaign said Wednesday that he had raised more than $2.1 million through the first quarter of this year.