Internal poll puts Burns up narrowly

Two months before a special election rematch in southwest Pennsylvania, Republican Tim Burns is sporting a five-point lead over Congressman Mark Critz (D-12), according to a GOP poll memo obtained by pa2010.com.

The memo from pollster Gene Ulm of Public Opinion Strategies says that a survey of 400 likely voters conducted late last month found Burns garnering 48 percent of the vote, compared to 43 percent for Critz. But the margin of error is 4.9…

September 2, 2010 at 2:33 pm | Comments (4)

Carney’s latest ad hypes ‘Made in America’

The latest TV commercial from Congressman Chris Carney (D-10) touts his advocacy for tax incentives to keep manufacturing jobs in America.

The 30-second spot is Carney’s second of the campaign, and it started airing in the northeast Pennsylvania district late last month.

“Made in America,” Carney says in the ad. “It’s a source of pride and an engine of growth, but it hasn’t been happening enough.”

Sporting a big cash advantage against Republican Tom Marino,…

September 2, 2010 at 1:13 pm | Comments (0)

Opinion

Obama’s best bad option

by G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young

One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a comedy, focused on magic and distinguishing fantasy from reality. Right about now, President Obama is probably having his own midsummer night’s dream, anxious to get back his old magic and separating fantasy from reality as he contemplates the upcoming midterm elections. For Obama, however, dreams could easily become nightmares if he fails to solve the political challenges now confronting him and his party.…

September 2, 2010 at 12:39 pm | Comments (7)

Callahan: Bad year for incumbents, not Dems

It’s conventional wisdom that Democrat John Callahan would have had a much better shot at unseating Congressman Charlie Dent (R-15) had he run during one of his party’s wave years in 2006 or 2008.

But Callahan says he’s not worried about running against the political tide.

“I don’t know that it’s a bad year for Democrats, I think it’s a bad year for incumbents,” Callahan said in a video interview with…

September 2, 2010 at 12:15 pm | Comments (1)

Kaine to deliver Dems’ fall message in Philly

Democratic National Committee chairman will look to frame the looming midterm elections on his party’s terms in Philadelphia next week, delivering what’s being billed as a major speech at the University of Pennsylvania.

A party official told pa2010.com that Kaine will give the speech Wednesday at Houston Hall. Gov. Ed Rendell will be in attendance.

“He’ll make the sharpest contrast that he has made to date on the direction the country would go if Republicans…

September 2, 2010 at 7:20 am | Comments (0)

From the Blogs

What’s changed, what hasn’t

by Michael Livingston

Back from a little vacation, and now we’re just two months away from the big day.

Some things have changed, some things haven’t.

• It looks like the Democrats are in even more trouble than I imagined they’d be. Who would have thought both Tom Corbett and Pat Toomey would be flirting with double-digit leads, and that Democrats would have a real chance of losing up to half-a-dozen House seats in Pennsylvania alone? No one…

September 2, 2010 at 7:19 am | Comments (6)

Scranton Dem endorses Barletta

Republican Lou Barletta has gotten some cross-party support for his congressional bid—albeit from someone who used to be in the GOP himself.

Scranton City Councilman Pat Rogan endorsed Barletta’s campaign against Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) Thursday, calling the Hazleton mayor “the best person to represent the people of Scranton.” Rogan ran unsuccessful council campaigns as a Republican before being elected as a Democrat last year, and is now the chamber’s vice president.

“This isn’t the…

September 2, 2010 at 7:13 am | Comments (3)

From the Blogs

LEFTOVERS: Onorato on the shale, a cancellation in the 3rd, Critz on Simpson

by Dan Hirschhorn

Another day, another news conference for Democrat Dan Onorato to hammer gubernatorial rival Tom Corbett.

This time Onorato was in Harrisburg talking up his plan for getting all that natural gas out of the Marcellus Shale—and talking down Corbett’s plan. The main difference between the two? Onorato supports a severance tax on the drilling companies, Corbett doesn’t. Corbett’s support for what’s been called “voluntary” drilling standards; his opposition to limiting new drilling in state forests;…

September 1, 2010 at 11:07 pm | Comments (2)

EXCLUSIVE: Callahan hitting the airwaves

Democrat John Callahan has made this election season’s first TV advertising buy in the 15th Congressional District, and will be on the air in the Lehigh Valley as early as Thursday morning, a Democratic insider told pa2010.com.

Callahan, the Bethlehem mayor and White House recruit, has been a fundraising star for the Democratic Party as he seeks to unseat Congressman Charlie Dent (R-15). He has kept the money race against the incumbent close, allowing him…

September 1, 2010 at 4:50 pm | Comments (2)