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

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)

Casey to headline Callahan fundraiser

BETHLEHEM—Pennsylvania’s senior senator is ready to go to bat for White House recruit John Callahan.

Senator Bob Casey will attend a fundraiser here Friday for Callahan, the Democratic nominee in the 15th Congressional District. Those looking for a chance gab with the Bethlehem mayor and Casey need to dole out at least $75 for admission to the event, which is being held at a private residence.

“The event will go a long way towards helping…

June 15, 2010 at 3:58 pm | Comments (7)

Casey heading out west

Senator Bob Casey is making a two-day campaign swing in western Pennsylvania for the Democratic Party’s two top priorities on May 18: fellow Senator Arlen Specter and 12 District special election nominee Mark Critz.

Casey will appear at a campaign rally with Specter Sunday night in Pitcairn, in Allegheny County. He also cut a radio ad for the Republican-turned-Democrat, in one of Casey’s most direct assists to Specter. The 60-second spot…

May 15, 2010 at 4:19 pm | Comments (19)

Report: GOP buys airtime in 12th District

The first independent expenditure in the 12th District special election has hit the airwaves.

The Hill reports that the National Republican Congressional Committee has made its first ad buy in the district. On its Web site, the Capitol Hill newspaper cited an anonymous source but did not indicate the size of the ad buy or the nature of any actual advertisements.

The disclosure came with Republican Tim Burns reportedly in the…

April 8, 2010 at 5:20 pm | Comments (6)

2012 Watch: Santorum stumping, an opponent for Casey

In politics, it’s never too  early to start thinking about the future. And so, former Senator Rick Santorum has been on the 2012 presidential circuit, with appearances in Iowa, New Hampshire and, of course, the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend.

“Against the advice of my wife,” Santorum said during his address to the conference Saturday, “I endorsed Arlen Specter.”

He responded to the boos with a folksy “My sentiments exactly!”…

February 22, 2010 at 9:15 am | Comments (8)

Senate update: They’re in town?

NEW YORK—After much speculation that Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey would miss the Pennsylvania Society weekend here, we’re hearing that both have made it into town for the tail end of the festivities.

We bumped into a couple Specter aides who said the senator is already here or will be shortly, and we’re hearing the same thing about Casey a day after his missed his own event.

Both were in Washington with the Senate…

December 12, 2009 at 2:19 pm | Comments (1)

Day 1 rumor mill and wrap up

NEW YORK—It was a day of non-stop politicking here Friday in midtown Manhattan. Here are a few things we’re hearing.

-—Lonely in D.C: Looks like the health care debate in Washington held up Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter. It may even make them miss whole weekend, but we hear they might show up later on Saturday. Specter certainly can’t afford to miss important moments for all the guff he’s given Joe Sestak about his…

December 12, 2009 at 6:54 am | Comments (0)

Casey: ‘I think Gov. Rendell will do just fine’

Asked about Gov. Ed Rendell’s slipping approval ratings Wednesday, Senator Bob Casey said the governor would “do just fine” coming out of a contentious budget season, and said the larger economic downturn was largely to blame.

“He’s living through, as every governor is, a very difficult budget situation, but that is connected to our economy and revenues,” Casey said on MSNBC.

He also said that health care reform was still a way off.

“I think…

July 29, 2009 at 1:47 pm | Comments (0)

Five Democrats who could shake up the Governor’s race

For months, Democratic insiders have looked at their party’s field for Governor and asked: “Is this it?”

And that was before Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham stepped aside. The candidates that remain are perceived front-runner Dan Onorato, the Allegheny County Executive, state Auditor General Jack Wagner and Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox. While those candidates would surely wave off such a perception, there’s no denying that people on both sides of the…

July 8, 2009 at 2:14 pm | Comments (16)

Bad news for Specter: Only 28 percent want him re-elected

Only 28 percent of Pennsylvanians believe Senator Arlen Specter deserves to be re-elected, according to a poll released today by the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College. In an F&M survey in March, 40 percent said Specter should be re-elected. Specter left the Republicans for the Democratic party on April 28.

Specter’s job approval ratings also dropped, from 52 percent in March to 34 percent now. Among Democrats,…

June 25, 2009 at 9:46 am | Comments (3)