Schuylkill Dems endorse Wagner

Yet another county party has endorsed Democrat Jack Wagner’s gubernatorial bid, with the Schuylkill County Democratic Committee unanimously backing the state auditor general

“Jack has been a friend to Schuylkill County throughout his career,” party chair Edward Kleha said in a campaign statement. “It is our pleasure to unanimously endorse him, and we look forward to making him Pennsylvania’s next Governor.”

Wagner has been racking up party support for the last several week, and was…

March 11, 2010 at 12:54 pm | Comments (2)

Jack Wagner’s train tracks

PHILADELPHIA—Auditor General Jack Wagner sure loves his “train-off-the-track” metaphor.

By our estimation, the Democratic candidate for governor has used it well over half-a-dozen times now—certainly at every forum we’ve seen.

He brought out the train again here Thursday evening during a forum at the National Constitution Center. “In Pennsylvania state government, the train is off the track,” Wagner said. “And it needs to be put back on the track through leadership of the next governor.”…

March 5, 2010 at 1:53 am | Comments (2)

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)

Lackawanna Dems back Wagner, Specter (Updated)

Auditor General Jack Wagner continues to rack up Democratic Party support ahead of the May gubernatorial primary, with the latest endorsement coming from the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee.

The local party formally backed Wagner at its meeting Monday night. The party also endorsed Senator Arlen Specter’s reelection bid.

“Jack possesses the integrity, leadership and accountability that is needed in the Governor’s office,” John O’Boyle, a member of the county party’s executive committee, said in a…

March 2, 2010 at 12:14 pm | Comments (7)

Warren County Dems endorse Wagner

Auditor General Jack Wagner continued to shore up local party support ahead of the May gubernatorial primary Thursday when he was endorsed by the Warren County Democratic Committee.

Wagner, who was the top vote-getter at the Democratic State Committee meeting earlier this month but failed to win an endorsement, has now been backed by almost a quarter of either county party chairs or their full committees.

“We recognize Jack’s contributions as Auditor General and previously…

February 25, 2010 at 2:39 pm | Comments (1)

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)

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)