Meehan to return $10K

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat Meehan will return a $10,000 contribution from a Delaware County GOP committee because the money was given almost immediately after the committee received $15,000 from a Philadelphia labor union Meehan had investigated as U.S. Attorney, The Inquirer reports.

The money is only a tiny fraction of a campaign war chest that long ago passed $700,000. But after The Inquirer pointed out that the Ridley Park Republican Committee had given Meehan the…

The real story vs. the make-believe story

In looking ahead to the next year’s elections, locally and nationally, there’s a real story and a make-believe, fill-the-airtime story. The media is now focusing on the latter, but that will change with time.

A labor battle is brewing: Philadelphia’s mayor freezes payroll increases

Philadelphia is in the midst of a union battle that could be one of the more dramatic tussles that the city has seen with its four major municipal unions in years.

With the Philadelphia budget in shambles and a projected $1-billion dollar deficit over the next five years, Mayor Michael Nutter has proposed payroll changes that city workers are finding tough to swallow.

Nutter will be cutting payroll increases for more than 20,000 city workers,…

Shapiro may run for Lt. Gov.

State Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) is being encouraged to dive into the relatively empty Democratic field for Lieutenant Governor, and when Harrisburg’s contentious budget negotiations are over, he may do just that, a Democrat close to Shapiro told pa2010.com.

“It’s something he will look at seriously,” the Democrat said on condition of anonymity because Shapiro hasn’t made any decision. Shapiro, the Democrat added, is not currently making moves toward the race, and will not consider…

The First Read — July 8, 2009

Every Monday-Thursday morning, pa2010.com compiles the most important political news of the day, from newspapers to the blogosphere and back. Enjoy this edition.

Sign up for The First Read. And for all the latest news, log on to pa2010.com, your destination for Pennsylvania’s big 2010 elections.

Shapiro may run for Lt. Gov.
State Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) is being encouraged to dive into the relatively empty Democratic field for Lieutenant Governor, and when Harrisburg’s contentious…

Saidel’s head start in Lt. Gov. race growing formidable

As the first candidate by far to pSaidel, a former Philadelphia City Controller, already has a campaign war-chest of more than half-a-million dollars, political consultants working on his behalf and he recently netted the…

The In-Specter on the state of the Senate race

If you’ve been following my analysis here at

The First Read — July 7, 2009

Every Monday-Thursday morning, pa2010.com compiles the most important political news of the day, from newspapers to the blogosphere and back. Enjoy this edition.

Sign up for The First Read. And for all the latest news, log on to pa2010.com, your destination for Pennsylvania’s big 2010 elections.

Onorato far outpacing Wagner in money game
In their likely matchup for the gubernatorial votes in western Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato already has one huge advantage over…

PA TEACHERS MAKE EARLY ENDORSEMENT IN 2010 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S DEMOCRATIC PIMARY

By JONATHAN SAIDEL FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Philadelphia – Below is a statement from D.A. Jones, Campaign Manager for Jonathan Saidel, Democratic Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania regarding the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers, Pennsylvania. The endorsement vote occurred at the 2009 AFT Pennsylvania Biennial Convention held in Philadelphia June 26 – 28, 2009.

“The Saidel campaign is deeply gratified to have won the support of the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania. Although…

Arlen Specter Campaign Update

By ARLEN SPECTER FOR SENATE

Welcome to the first edition of the Specter 2010 campaign update. Last week was an exciting one as Senator Specter met with hundreds of Party leaders across nine counties to talk about their shared Democratic values.

1. “Sen. Specter always gathered support in the county,” said Greg Leathers, chairman of the Greene County Democratic Committee. “He has been a friend of labor and the AFL-CIO.” Leathers added that a challenger…