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)

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)

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)

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)

Callahan talks jobs

Bethlehem mayor and Democratic congressional hopeful John Callahan rolled out his jobs agenda this week, a five-point plan that tracks closely with ideas circulated by some of the moderates in his party.

Callahan’s jobs plan, unveiled at a news conference in Bethlehem and during an interview with pa2010.com, centers on eliminating tax incentives for companies to outsource jobs overseas; enacting small business tax cuts; increasing financial aid for higher education; cutting “wasteful” spending; and streamlining…

September 1, 2010 at 3:35 pm | Comments (0)

Lentz gave to Santorum in 2000

For almost a year, Democrat Bryan Lentz and his supporters have worked to equate his Republican opponent with former Senator Rick Santorum, the conservative who got washed out of office by the Democratic wave in 2006. Pat Meehan, Lentz’s rival in the 7th Congressional District, was a campaign manager for Santorum, and counts the former senator as a close supporter.

But Lentz, a two-term state Representative, was briefly a Santorum supporter himself—at least financially.

Lentz…

September 1, 2010 at 3:33 pm | Comments (8)

Kaine stumping for Trivedi

The top man in the Democratic Party is coming to Pennsylvania to pitch in for congressional hopeful Manan Trivedi.

Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine will be in Philadelphia Thursday, where he will headline a fundraiser for the 6th District candidate before he joins a meeting of local Asian-American leaders. For Kaine, it’s part of a tour he’s doing to help Asian-American and Indian-American candidates. Kaine will also be joined by Congressman Mike Honda (D-Calif.),…

September 1, 2010 at 9:12 am | Comments (7)

Marino wants more debates

Only one debate is planned between the candidates in the 10th Congressional District this year. And that’s got Republican Tom Marino pretty peeved.

Marino, a former U.S. Attorney, made his strongest plea for more debates this week, saying that Congressman Chris Carney (D-10) is trying to “hide his record from the people” of the northeast Pennsylvania district.

“Maybe he is afraid to defend the fact that he toes the liberal line and supports the reckless…

September 1, 2010 at 7:58 am | Comments (3)