Barletta claims $500K raised, ahead of ‘08 pace

Republican Lou Barletta says he’s ahead of where he was last time around in the fundraising game.

Barletta’s 11th District congressional campaign said Monday that it has raised more than half-a-million dollars since entering the race late last year. More details will be disclosed in campaign finance reports filed later this week. But the campaign said it was on the right track to beat incumbent Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11), after falling short against him in…

July 12, 2010 at 3:52 pm | Comments (2)

POST-HIATUS RECAP: Corbett’s gaffe, a Dem petition pile on, action in the 11th

A surprising amount of news happened while we were taking a little breather last week. So before we move forward, it seemed prudent to offer up a little recap.

The story of last week had to be Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett’s comments that Pennsylvanians are purposefully staying jobless to collect unemployment benefits. The attorney general made the claim during a radio interview Friday, during which he said: “People don’t want to come back to…

July 12, 2010 at 12:25 pm | Comments (4)

Barletta, observers see little downside in two defeats

Lou Barletta hopes the third time will be the charm. Paul Kanjorski hopes his longtime foe is getting to three strikes and you’re out.

Kanjorski, the Democratic incumbent in the 11th Congressional District, has already dispatched two challenges from Barletta in the last eight years. Whether and how having already lost twice will play out for Barletta remains to be seen. But at least a couple political observers say voters have yet to render their…

June 30, 2010 at 1:30 pm | Comments (4)

Kanjorski warns of market dive if reform bill fails

Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) says the stakes are high and the consequences grave if Congress can’t muster the votes to pass the financial reform legislation that’s in reopened conference committee negotiations.

“What happens in this country if this bill fails?” Kanjorski asked Wednesday on CNBC. “If you think 236 points down on the Dow is surprising? Check 1,000 or 2,000 points if we fail to change the ways that caused this problem.”

Kanjorski is on…

June 30, 2010 at 1:06 pm | Comments (0)

Giuliani to stump for Barletta

Former New York mayor and one-time presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is set to lend his Big Apple star power to Lou Barletta.

The Times Leader

June 26, 2010 at 10:07 pm | Comments (5)

Dems stick up for Kanjorski

Several black and Hispanic members of Congress are rallying behind Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11), defending him in the wake of comments the longtime incumbent made Wednesday that some interpreted to be racist.

The show of support, from Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-1), among others, came less than 48 hours after Kanjorski made his initial remarks—comments that, viewed in their full context, appeared to be much more impolitic than they were racist. “I…

June 25, 2010 at 8:05 pm | Comments (9)

LEFTOVERS: Williams’ next move, Saidel’s new gig, toss-up in the 11th

Democrat Anthony Williams didn’t make much public noise after finishing third in the gubernatorial primary last month, and he even passed on a chance to endorse Dan Onorato on primary night. But he was set to break that silence in a big way Thursday night, with plans for a two-hour event to “announce next steps” at the National Constitution Center. And even before the curtain came up on that number, Dave Davies at WHYY told…

June 24, 2010 at 9:59 pm | Comments (3)

Kanjorski gets flak over racially tinged comments

Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) was on the receiving end Thursday of criticism in political circles and on the blogosphere, after he said Wednesday night that people benefiting from government relief are “not minorities and they’re not defective … these are average, good American people.”

Kanjorski’s remarks came during a hearing of the conference committee that is reconciling financial reform legislation passed by the House and Senate. He quickly drew heat from Republicans, including opponent Lou…

June 24, 2010 at 2:32 pm | Comments (6)

LEFTOVERS: More debate stuff, Kelly’s team moves forward, Barletta’s number

Democrat Dan Onorato on Wednesday continued his drive to debate gubernatorial rival Tom Corbett a zillion times, holding yet another conference call with reporters and announcing a slate of civic groups that he’s hoping will organize these little shin-digs. “We owe the citizens of Pennsylvania the opportunity to hear us directly address the issues that are important to them,” Onorato said. “The next Governor will have to turn around the economy, make the state live…

June 23, 2010 at 11:57 pm | Comments (1)

Barletta calls out Kanjo for not holding town halls

With members of Congress throughout the country notably avoiding the usual summer slate of town hall meetings, Republican Lou
Barletta is being particularly dogged in going after Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) over the issue.

June 21, 2010 at 3:15 pm | Comments (1)