LEFTOVERS: Rendell on Obama, Gerlach gives to NRCC, vulnerable seats

President Obama is about to go on “The View”—but Gov. Ed Rendell thinks that’s not such a good idea because the president should only do “serious shows.”

“I think the president should be accessible, should answer questions that aren’t pre-screened, but I think there should be a little bit of dignity to the presidency,” Rendell said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

We’re assuming Rendell’s rule doesn’t apply to governors, considering that the former Philadelphia mayor is…

July 27, 2010 at 3:44 pm | Comments (7)

Schneller says he’ll be on the ballot in the 7th

The competitive 7th District House race could very well end up being a three-man contest.

Jim Schneller, the self-identified Tea Party candidate who is running as an independent, said this week that he has collected enough signatures to get on the ballot. Pennsylvania election law makes it very difficult to gain ballot access as an independent or third-party candidate. Schneller needs about 4,200 signatures, equal to two percent of the total votes that incumbent Congressman…

July 27, 2010 at 10:22 am | Comments (14)

Lentz launching 25-stop economy tour (Updated)

Democratic congressional hopeful Bryan Lentz is set to spend the next few months focusing on jobs, jobs, jobs.

Lentz’s 7th District campaign said Monday that the state Representative is embarking on a 10-week, 25-stop “economic listening tour” that will take the candidate to local businesses and town-hall style forums. The tour will begin Tuesday at New Way Air Bearings, a company that manufactures parts for flat-screen televisions.

The tour comes as candidates up and down…

July 26, 2010 at 12:24 pm | Comments (2)

LEFTOVERS: Sestak on Club for Growth, Toomey on earmarks, Lentz’s haul

Summer is the season of campaign Web videos, and it continued Tuesday with a broadside from Democrat Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign, which used its latest video to go after the Club for Growth, the limited government group formerly headed by Republican opponent Pat Toomey.

The video juxtaposes Toomey talking about his tenure at the club with Republicans bashing it. The club has long been a thorn in the side of moderate Republicans, who often find…

July 20, 2010 at 8:04 pm | Comments (11)

Rudy Giuliani’s busy day in Pa.

Former New York Mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani had a busy day scheduled for Monday, with three campaign stops for Pennsylvania Republicans from Wilkes-Barre to Philadelphia.

Giuliani started his day with an afternoon appearance for Congressman Charlie Dent (R-15) in Bethlehem.

He was set to continue at a fundraiser for 11th District candidate Lou Barletta in Wilkes-Barre. And his day was scheduled to wrap up with a “late dinner and cigar smoke” on behalf…

July 19, 2010 at 2:44 pm | Comments (4)

Lentz collects another $230K; fundraising gap grows

Democrat Bryan Lentz raised another $230,000 over the two months ending June. But even as his Republican opponent Pat Meehan has burned through cash at a faster rate, Lentz’s financial disadvantage in the competitive 7th District race has steadily grown over the last several months.

Lentz’s second-quarter campaign finance report had not yet been published online early Tuesday evening, but the latest numbers were provided by his campaign. The $230,000 he raised fell short of…

July 15, 2010 at 6:38 pm | Comments (14)

Meehan makes radio buy to lambaste Pelosi visit

Republican Pat Meehan is taking to the radio to highlight House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s impending Philadelphia visit on behalf of Democratic opponent Bryan Lentz.

Meehan’s 7th District congressional campaign was set to begin airing a 60-second spot on local radio stations Thursday, including KYW and WPHT, the popular talk-radio channel. The ad, set as a circus-style announcement of Pelosi’s visit, will air for a couple days.

“The Nancy Pelosi political circus is coming to town,”…

July 15, 2010 at 9:38 am | Comments (7)

Internal Meehan poll shows Republican in strong position

An internal poll conducted for Republican Pat Meehan’s congressional campaign shows the former U.S. Attorney in a strong position to win the fiercely competitive 7th District race against Democrat Bryan Lentz.

The survey, described in a poll memo provided to pa2010.com by a Meehan campaign adviser, appeared to contain few surprises. Meehan is significantly better-known than Lentz in the Delaware County district, after years on the local political scene and a stint as district attorney.…

July 13, 2010 at 6:31 pm | Comments (16)

Staffing up, Lentz readies a change of campaign manager

As he staffs up considerably for the homestretch before Election Day, Democrat Bryan Lentz is getting ready to switch campaign managers.

Vincent Rongione, who has run Lentz’s 7th District congressional campaign for more than seven months, is transitioning to a general consulting role. Rongione told pa2010.com he’s making the switch because he’s moving out of Pennsylvania for personal reasons. Kevin McTigue, who was recently hired as political director, will be taking over as campaign manager, while Rongione will continue to play a role in political strategy and big-picture public relations.

July 13, 2010 at 11:09 am | Comments (23)

Meehan says he raised more than half-a-million last quarter

Republican congressional candidate Pat Meehan continues to raise money at fast clip.

Meehan, a former U.S. Attorney, said Monday that he raked in more than $500,000 in campaign cash between April 29 and June 30. The exact numbers won’t be available until campaign finance reports are filed later this week, but Meehan’s campaign said he has now raised more than $1.6 million in his bid for the 7th District seat being left vacant by Democrat Joe Sestak. The campaign said it has more than $1 million in the bank.

July 12, 2010 at 3:38 pm | Comments (3)