Labor endorsements for Sestak, Specter

The Democratic candidate for Senate spent Monday rolling out dueling labor endorsements, with Arlen Specter winning the backing of autoworkers and a major western Pennsylvania union council, while Joe Sestak announced support from a powerful food workers' union.Specter's endorsement from the Allegheny County Labor Council was particularly notable, since the support of the council, which represents about 100,000 workers in the state, is effectively a recommendation to the statewide AFL-CIO. As he's racked up union support in recent weeks, Specter has continued to court the state's largest umbrella labor group, which has backed him in the past. full story

March 8, 2010 at 6:52 pm | Comments (37)

Obama’s Pa. trip sparks war of words

President Obama’s trip to Pennsylvania to pitch the Democratic health care plan Monday sparked a political war of words, with the state Republican and Democratic parties facing off over what is the proper prescription to treat the state’s 1.2 million uninsured.

State GOP Chairman Rob Gleason joined Senate hopeful Pat Toomey on a conference call with reporters, during which the Republicans called “ObamaCare” the wrong option for Pennsylvania, saying it costs too…

March 8, 2010 at 6:28 pm | Comments (7)

Anti-abortion group warns Altmire, Kanjorski on health care vote

One of the country’s leading anti-abortion groups is sending a warning shot to House Democrats that if they vote health care reform  legislation that loosens restrictions on federal funding for abortion, they should be ready to lose their jobs.

And they’re bringing polling data to prove it.

The Susan B. Anthony List, founded to advance the role of pro-life women in politics, rolled our their survey late last week, a poll that included data on…

March 8, 2010 at 1:33 pm | Comments (5)

Two from Pa. heading ‘Red to Blue’

Two House Democrats from the Keystone State are helping to head up the party’s campaign efforts at capturing Republican-held seats.

Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13) were among four co-chairs of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program announced Monday. In addition to aiding challengers, the program also assists in open-seat races.

Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Ia.) are also co-chairing the program.

“The DCCC is focused…

March 8, 2010 at 1:20 pm | Comments (3)

From the Blogs

Critz? Really?

by Tammy Alonso

I was just a bit surprised when I received the breaking news Saturday that local Democrats in the 12th Congressional District, had voted to support Mark Critz, a longtime aide to the late Congressman John Murtha, as their preferred nominee for the special election to serve out the remainder of Murtha’s term. This less than two days after reports surfaced that Critz once served as the business manager and bookkeeper for…

March 8, 2010 at 8:00 am | Comments (8)

From the Blogs

LEFTOVERS: More Rangel money, Rendell on Corbett’s head, the Dem holdouts on health care

by Dan Hirschhorn

A busy weekend in western Pennsylvania sure makes it hard keep up.

Charles Rangel may have resigned his House Ways & Means chairmanship, but that doesn’t mean Democrats are free of Republican attacks about him. Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) appears to be the favored target as of late, because unlike many other Democrats, she hasn’t given back or donated campaign contribution from Rangel or his affiliated political action committees. One of her potential GOP opponents,…

March 7, 2010 at 11:56 pm | Comments (1)

Could Cernic get the nod?

Mark Critz has electability issues. Barbara Hafer has pissed people off.

Could Ed Cernic Jr. end up winning Monday?

It’s not as crazy it sounds. The Cambria County controller, who was seen by many as little more than a spoiler candidate, could emerge as a something of a compromise candidate for state Democratic Party leaders flummoxed by how best to hold the late John Murtha’s seat in the 12th Congressional District.…

March 7, 2010 at 11:23 pm | Comments (8)

How Hafer hurt herself

DELMONT—When Barbara Hafer addressed local Democratic insiders to seek their support here Saturday, John Lingnelli had something to say that he thought warranted an interruption.

“Let the congressman rest in peace!” Lignelli, the small-town mayor of Donora, shouted over her.

In a non-binding vote shortly after, the rank-and-file backed Mark Critz over Hafer, a result that had been widely expected. But it was Lignelli’s raw emotion that highlighted a political dynamic still being…

March 7, 2010 at 11:03 pm | Comments (23)

High-level Dem: ‘Incredibly unlikely’ Critz gets nominated

Mark Critz may have the support of local Democrats in his bid for the 12th Congressional District. But the final decision on who carries the banner in the May special election rests with the state party’s executive committee. And one high-level Democrat says the electability issues that have been raised about John Murtha’s former district director are serious.

Serious enough, perhaps, to deny him the nomination when the executive committee votes Monday.

Calling…

March 7, 2010 at 9:43 pm | Comments (16)

For Critz, being a ‘legacy’ candidate is a double-edge sword

From the moment Mark Critz got into the Democratic contest to follow his late boss, his staunchest supporters have described him as the natural successor to John Murtha, someone in the best position to carry on the longtime congressman’s work in the 12th District. One person endorsing him even described Critz, Murtha’s former district director, as “the best legacy candidate.”

In a climate hostile to anything resembling political establishment, that could be a perilous message…

March 7, 2010 at 9:11 pm | Comments (0)