Gerlach: My opponents have no voting record to judge

Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) says voters should view the fact that his likely gubernatorial opponents have no voting record as evidence of their inexperience for the state’s executive office.

In an interview with The Bulletin, a conservative newspaper in Philadelphia, Gerlach framed himself as a moderate whose stance on issues is clearly laid out in his record, whereas his opponents come from a law enforcement background that should give voters pause.

Gerlach…

May 19, 2009 at 9:49 am | Comments (0)

Meehan delivers commencement speech at Catholic University in Aston

It’s almost summer and it is getting to be graduation time. Gubernatorial hopeful Pat Meehan was invited to make an appearance at one graduation ceremony, where he delivered another warning message to corrupt politicians and CEOs.

The warning came during a commencement address at Neumann University, a Catholic college in Aston. The Daily Times reports that Pat Meehan spoke of a general lack of public trust in American institutions.

“It started in corporate boardrooms symbolized…

May 18, 2009 at 2:40 pm | Comments (0)

Congratulations, Virginia Davis!

Pat Meehan’s spokeswoman Virginia Davis tells pa2010.com Central that she and her husband are expecting their second child, a baby girl, in September.

Davis and her husband Brett live with their first child, Owen, in Havertown.

No word yet if or when Davis—who has also worked for former Senator Rick Santorum—will take some time off from Meehan’s exploratory run for governor.

But pa2010.com Central offers a hearty Mazel Tov to the whole Davis family (no,…

May 13, 2009 at 10:59 am | Comments (0)

Meehan’s act for intermission

Pat Meehan has been known to be an aggressive prosecutor of white-collar criminals, his most recent accomplishment being the successful indictment of former state Senator Vince Fumo (Meehan resigned as U.S. Attorney before the case went to trial). Fumo, charged with and later convicted for conspiracy to defraud the state Senate and two Philadelphia non-profits, is another relic of Philadelphia’s sleazy political landscape. There’s little doubt that his conviction will bolster Philadelphia’s confidence in its…

May 4, 2009 at 8:46 am | Comments (1)

On Pat Meehan and the political winds

When Senator Arlen Specter defected to the Democrats, a political adviser to likely gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett showed a little savvy by “suggesting” to The Inquirer that Pat Meehan should run for Senate instead of running for Governor against his boss.

I talked to Meehan spokeswoman Virgina Davis the day The Inquirer story came out, and she made clear Meehan was singularly focused on the gubernatorial race.

But obviously the plant by Corbett…

May 1, 2009 at 12:53 pm | Comments (0)

Corbett still leads in guv poll—most undecided

Continuing to benefit from his superior name recognition, Attorney General Tom Corbett holds a significant lead over his potential GOP competitors for the party’s gubernatorial nomination, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall poll, which asked registered Republicans who they would vote for if the primary were today, found 22 percent backing Corbett. But the vast majority of voters—63 percent—said they didn’t know who they would support. The poll was…

May 1, 2009 at 10:28 am | Comments (1)

Corbett adviser ’suggests’ that Meehan leave Guv field; no dice, Meehan aide says

In a little bit of political maneuvering through the press, John Brabender, a top political consultant to Attorney General Tom Corbett, told The Inquirer that former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan should consider running for the GOP Senate nomination—rather than competing against Brabender’s boss for the party’s gubernatorial bid.

Ever since Senator Arlen Specter said he would switch parties yesterday, there has been speculation that Meehan would jump into the race. But he’s…

April 29, 2009 at 9:11 am | Comments (1)

The morning after: Conspiracy theories and names in the air

It could be called the equivalent of the political hangover: A news event rocks the political landscape, and in the process pundits, journalists and insiders throw out so many different hypothetically impending scenarios that it’s hard to keep track of what had merit in reality and what was a pipe dream.

The next morning, it’s all a cesspool of political speculation and innuendo.

The day after Senator Arlen Specter made his big switch,…

April 29, 2009 at 8:33 am | Comments (4)

Baer on Meehan for… AG?

John Baer has a column up this morning chock full of the kind of insider gossip and speculation we love here at pa2010.com.

The most interesting—and far-fetched—scenario he comes up with? That Pat Meehan could drop out of the governor’s race and be Corbett’s successor as Attorney General.

Fun to think about. But not happening.

April 27, 2009 at 8:59 am | Comments (0)

Gang violence a potent issue

Although the issue of gun control is often off-limits for many politicians, the problems associated with gangs are not. Gang related crime and what politicians have done to prevent it is expected to be a hot topic in political campaigns of 2010. Issues relating to gangs will likely be particularly important in the upcoming election, as a deep recession and increasing poverty make Pennsylvania even more vulnerable to violence and gang activity.

April 23, 2009 at 8:33 pm | Comments (2)