Pike concedes, endorsing Trivedi for general election

Almost 24 hours after polls closed, Democrat Doug Pike conceded defeat in the 6th District primary, throwing his support behind Reading doctor Manan Trivedi in what is sure to be a competitive general election battle against Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6).

Trivedi held a narrow lead late Tuesday night, and Pike’s campaign conceded after it spent Wednesday making sure there weren’t enough uncounted provisional or absentee ballots to make a difference in the race. Pike called…

May 19, 2010 at 4:35 pm | Comments (22)

Numbers point to a Trivedi win, but Pike doesn’t concede

READING—Democrat Manan Trivedi appeared to have won the hotly-contest primary in the 6th Congressional District late Tuesday night, holding a narrow lead over opponent Doug Pike hours after polls clsoed. But even with news organizations calling the race for Trivedi, Pike had yet to concede, telling supporters that the race was too close to call and couldn’t be decided until at least Wednesday.

Action in the close race extended well past midnight and ended with…

May 19, 2010 at 7:00 am | Comments (19)

Gerlach says he’s ready for whichever Dem wins

CHESTER SPRINGS—With Democrats battling it out for a chance to take him on, Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) sounded confident Tuesday that he’ll win another term in November.

In a brief interview after he cast his vote here, Gerlach told pa2010.com that he feels good about his chances in the general election—regardless of which Democrat prevails Tuesday. Gerlach is expected to cruise against underdog Tea Party candidate Patrick Sellers in the Republican primary.

With the political…

May 18, 2010 at 4:24 pm | Comments (0)

Buying the office?

It’s been conventional wisdom here in the 12th Congressional District that Republican Tim Burns’ ability to self-finance his campaign for the special election to serve out the remainder of the late Congressman John Murtha’s term in office was behind the GOP’s rationale to choose him over conservative grassroots favorite Bill Russell.

And considering the amount of cash Burns has personally injected into his campaign, that wisdom seems to be well-founded.

Burns…

May 18, 2010 at 11:12 am | Comments (4)

Abortion remains potent issue in 6th District, as NARAL voices neutrality

In the contest between Democrats Doug Pike and Manan Trivedi, the issue of abortion just won’t go away. The two candidates in the 6th Congressional District are battling for the votes of suburban Democratic women down to the wire before Tuesday’s primary. And in the process, things are staying very much heated.

The latest flare up came when the prominent group NARAL Pro-Choice issued a statement Friday clarifying that it has not endorsed either candidate,…

May 15, 2010 at 6:06 pm | Comments (6)

Trivedi makes a late-game loan

With his primary showdown against the well-funded Doug Pike just days away, 6th District Democratic hopeful Manan Trivedi is reaching a bit deeper into his own wallet.

Trivedi, a Reading doctor, loaned his campaign $36,000 late last week, according to newly-filed campaign finance data. He entered the month facing a large cash-on-hand deficit against Pike, a former Inquirer editorial writer who has put about $1 million in…

May 10, 2010 at 1:59 pm | Comments (8)

For final push, Pike hits the airwaves (Updated)

Less than two weeks before primary voters go to the polls, Democrat Doug Pike is deploying his considerable campaign war chest to TV.

Pike, the former Inquirer editorial writer who faces Manan Trivedi in the hotly-contest 6th District primary, appears to have first gone on the air over the weekend. Though pa2010.com has not yet seen his first ad, multiple reports were received of it airing on TV. His first ad buy is on both…

May 9, 2010 at 10:30 pm | Comments (5)

Trivedi raises four times Pike’s haul in April—but daunting cash deficit remains

Democrat Manan Trivedi raised about $41,000 in April, more than four times what 6th District primary opponent Doug Pike brought in, according to campaign finance data. But Pike finished the month with the same huge cash on hand advantage that he has had for months, one built on the million dollars the former Inquirer editorial writer has given his own campaign.

Trivedi, a Reading doctor, has brought in about $442,000 since getting into the race…

May 7, 2010 at 2:31 pm | Comments (9)

Abortion rights leaders back Trivedi—and one bashes Pike

Prominent advocates for abortion rights came out in support of Democrat Manan Trivedi on Friday, and one of them took a swipe at 6th District primary opponent Doug Pike over past writings by the longtime columnist and former Inquirer editorial writer.

Trivedi was endorsed by the National Organization for Women’s political action committee, a powerful force in Democratic politics. “Manan Trivedi has demonstrated to us that he will stand up for the full equality of…

May 7, 2010 at 11:59 am | Comments (14)

A stronger economy means stronger job growth

While some “experts” are starting to talk about an economic recovery, I know many Pennsylvania families who are still hurting. The jobs just aren’t there for them, or so many others who are looking for work. These families are struggling to hold onto their homes and avoid bankruptcy.

It is time for Washington to act. President Obama and Congress have made a good start, but much more needs to be done. They must take additional…

May 7, 2010 at 8:15 am | Comments (3)