From the Blogs

What enthusiasm gap?

by Tony Heyl

It seems that every story nowadays is a political obituary for Democrats at the hands of a revitalized Republican Party. Given recent polling, the intensity of the Tea Party movement and the historical trend of the president’s party losing seats in midterm election years, it’s understandable for Democrats to be anxious.

However, I saw none of this anxiety Monday when Senator Bob Casey joined 6th District congressional candidate Manan Trivedi in Ardmore.

I think I…

August 31, 2010 at 12:56 pm | Comments (10)

New Corbett ad touts no-tax pledge

A new TV ad from Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett talks up the attorney general’s pledge not to raise taxes—and waves off the bipartisan skepticism that he can keep the pledge.

The ad, unveiled by Corbett’s campaign in an e-mail to supporters Tuesday morning, is his first new TV spot since he cruised to his party’s nomination in the May primary. The size of the first ad buy was not immediately clear, but Corbett started…

August 31, 2010 at 11:15 am | Comments (4)

From the Blogs

The PLCB and the next guv

by Adam Lang

Many Philadelphians have been developing a hate-hate relationship with a variety of government agencies over a long period of time. Some of these, for example, are the Delaware River Port Authority, Philadelphia Housing Authority and the School Reform Commission—or as some friends of mine over at Philadelphia Speaks coined it, The Axis of Arrogant Incompetence. All these agencies have been in the news a lot recently, and not for their redeeming qualities.

But there’s another…

August 31, 2010 at 11:13 am | Comments (2)

Sestak’s first ad hits Toomey on corporate taxes

Breaking his TV silence more than three months after a wildly successful primary advertising blitz, Democrat Senate candidate Joe Sestak is up with his campaign’s first commercial of the general election cycle.

The 30-second spot, coming just over two months before Election Day, strikes a stridently populist tone, juxtaposing Republican nominee Pat Toomey’s previous statements about corporate taxes with news clips about falling tax payments by corporations. The ad uses a 2007 CNBC appearance by…

August 31, 2010 at 8:22 am | Comments (1)

From the Blogs

LEFTOVERS: Sestak & earmarks, Casey does SEPA, Marino on tape

by Dan Hirschhorn

Democrat Joe Sestak found himself under new scrutiny on that pesky subject of earmarks Monday, after The Morning Call reported that money Sestak earmarked for a non-profit foundation could instead end up benefiting a for-profit wind energy company.

At issue is $350,000 requested for the Thomas Paine Foundation, money to develop a new prototype, offshore wind turbine. The money was never actually appropriated, but long story short, the head of the…

August 30, 2010 at 7:23 pm | Comments (5)

Kanjorski’s first ad hits Barletta as ‘failed mayor’

Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) has taken his reelection bid to local TV screens in northeast Pennsylvania, using his campaign’s first 30-second spot to pointedly attack Republican challenger Lou Barletta’s legacy as mayor of Hazleton.

Kanjorski’s started airing the ad late last week, and his campaign said media buys of both cable and broadcast would continue through Election Day. Reflecting the bitter rivalry between the two candidates and the reality that Kanjorski faces a daunting anti-incumbent,…

August 30, 2010 at 1:49 pm | Comments (5)

Club for Growth calls Sestak ‘very liberal’ in new ad

The folks from Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey’s old stomping grounds are going to bat against his opponent, using a new TV ad to call Democrat Joe Sestak “very liberal.”

The conservative Club for Growth, which Toomey led until shortly before he entered the Senate race, unveiled the 30-second spot Friday, which it says will air statewide on both cable and broadcast TV. The precise size of the ad buy was not immediately clear—an independent…

August 27, 2010 at 12:23 pm | Comments (26)

From the Blogs

Lentz camp goes hypocritical… to cry hypocrisy?

by Dan Hirschhorn

A simple campaign press release had never made my jaw literally drop—until I saw what Democrat Bryan Lentz’s campaign laid on my table recently.

“Lentz Campaign Calls For Meehan to Try and Win Votes with Ideas, Not Courts,” the headline screamed.

This is, of course, a reference to the fact that Republican Pat Meehan’s campaign in the 7th Congressional District has spearheaded a ballot challenge against Jim Schneller, the…

August 27, 2010 at 11:00 am | Comments (9)

Gun control group hits Toomey

Trekking through the state on his bus tour this week, Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey offered up a playful remark on his thoughts about gun policy. “My idea of gun control is steady aim,” Toomey said Tuesday in York County.

A prominent Pennsylvania gun control group didn’t appreciate that.

CeaseFirePA hammered Toomey for the comment, which it called “disrespectful and disappointing for a candidate who seeks to represent Pennsylvania in the…

August 27, 2010 at 9:30 am | Comments (10)

From the Blogs

Palin’s visit and GOP candidates

by Laura Vecsey

Do you remember where you were the day U.S. politics hung a wild, tire-screeching turn, spinning conservatives to a euphoric frenzy and sending liberals into a tailspin of self-immolating doubt?

It’s been almost exactly two years since John McCain announced on Aug. 29, 2008, that mid-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was his pick for vice president.

“Brilliant!” cried Republicans, who feared McCain’s campaign had no juice left.

“Insane!” cried Democrats, who flew off the hinges…

August 27, 2010 at 8:45 am | Comments (9)