On home turf, Hoeffel easily wins MontCo endorsement

PLYMOUTH MEETING—Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel scored an easy endorsement win from his local Democratic Party Thursday night, beating out gubernatorial rival Dan Onorato by a five-to-one margin on a standing voice vote.

Hoeffel, who is underfunded and whose campaign has seemed lag of late, was widely expected to win on his home turf. No formal roll call vote was required during the county party’s endorsement convention at the Colonial Elementary School here.

“We need…

March 12, 2010 at 4:42 am | Comments (7)

Teachers’ union endorses Onorato

The state’s largest teachers’ union endorsed Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato Wednesday, giving the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful his most significant labor support in the race so far.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, which represents about 200,000 teachers and other employees in public school and universities, backed Onorato during an event in Philadelphia.

“Dan Onorato shares our belief that the power of a great education can result in strong schools, successful children and vibrant communities,” PSEA…

March 10, 2010 at 6:30 pm | Comments (7)

Guv candidates talk pensions, taxes, transportation

PHILADELPHIA—The six candidate for governor came together for yet another forum Thursday evening, discussing a plethora issues that affect the state’s business climate, from the looming pension crisis and tax-rates to the transportation funding that could confront the state if its application to toll Interstate 80 is again rejected by the federal government.

The forum, hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and held at the National Constitution Center here, was the first time…

March 5, 2010 at 1:30 am | Comments (6)

Poll: Onorato leads Dems, Corbett up in general

Another poll, another snapshot of a wide open governor’s race.

A Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday showed Allegheny County Executive holding a narrow lead over his Democratic rivals—but with almost 60 percent of voters still undecided. Onorato garners 16 percent of the vote, compared to 11 percent for Auditor General Jack Wagner and 10 percent for Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel. State Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), who only recently entered the race, trails the rest…

March 3, 2010 at 12:07 pm | Comments (13)

LEFTOVERS: More PA-12 hopefuls, blog targets Onorato, Q-poll numbers

The candidates keep coming in the 12th Congressional District.

One of the latest is attorney Ron Mackell Jr., a Texas attorney who used to live in Johnstown. The Tribune-Democrat reports that he’ll seek the Democratic nomination in the May primary, but he won’t vie for the party’s nod to run in the special election. The newspaper also reports that Bill Choby, a Johnstown resident who tried to unseat the late John Murtha…

March 2, 2010 at 4:30 pm | Comments (6)

Poll: Guv race mostly unchanged

Less than three months before the primary, the political landscape in the race for governor remains mostly the same as voters wait to learn more about the candidate, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey released Wednesday showed Attorney General Tom Corbett with a comfortable lead over state Representative Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) in the GOP primary, while the Democratic contest is still wide open. Corbett leads Rohrer 26 percent to four…

February 24, 2010 at 10:27 am | Comments (6)

ChesCo Dems don’t endorse for guv, senate (Updated)

WEST CHESTER—Democratic candidate for governor and senate came here Saturday to court local Democrats, but no one left with enough support to win a formal endorsement from the Chester County party.

Stumping to an audience that included some of his own constituents, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) delivered an impassioned speech in which he walked up and down the aisles—but failed to win an endorsement on what was partly his home turf.

“This is gut-check time for Democrats,” Sestak said to applause. “If there was ever a time not to back down it’s now. It’s not the united states of America that needs reform, it’s the united states Congress, and particularly the Senate. We should have a principled compromise, not a compromise of principle.”

February 20, 2010 at 7:29 pm | Comments (47)

Guv candidates debate urban issues

PHILADELPHIA— Four candidates for governor came together just one block north of city hall here Thursday night to field questions about issues confronting Pennsylvania’s cities in what was one of the first gubernatorial debates to feature candidates from both parties.

The event, featuring Democrats Joe Hoeffel, Dan Onorato and Jack Wagner, as well as Republican Sam Rohrer, was sponsored by he Coalition for Essential Services and Philly Neighborhood Networks and held at Arch Street Methodist…

February 19, 2010 at 9:00 am | Comments (5)

Steelworkers endorse Onorato for guv

A large steelworkers union endorsed Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato for governor on Wednesday, as the Democrat looks to build his support from organized labor three months before the primary.

United Steelworkers announced its support for Onorato during an event at the union’s Pittsburgh headquarters.

“Dan Onorato is the only candidate for Governor who knows what it takes to help lead and manage a large economy in difficult times,” United Steelworkers International president Leo Gerard…

February 17, 2010 at 4:49 pm | Comments (9)

LEFTOVERS: Sestak in Pittsburgh, Specter in San Fran, Doherty’s decision, guv endorsements

Democrat Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign officially opened its new Pittsburgh office Tuesday—and it yielded the kind of back-and-forth you don’t normally get from some mundane office opening.

First, let’s not forget to note that having more boots on the ground in western Pennsylvania is an important step for the campaign.

“With this new office, we can work to ensure that the needs and desires of Western Pennsylvania will not fall on the deaf ears of…

February 16, 2010 at 11:19 pm | Comments (36)