Town halls good or bad for Specter?

The Fix has an interesting breakdown examining whether Arlen Specter’s recent spate of town-hall confrontations are good or bad for his reelection prospects.

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Sestak sees poll numbers improving

PHILADELPHIA—Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) sounded upbeat Wednesday night about the

The First Read — August 13, 2009

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Sestak says he ‘will not budge’ on public option for health care
PHILADELPHIA—Fielding emotionally charged questions from a group of more than 500, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) jumped into…

Sestak says he ‘will not budge’ on public option for health care

PHILADELPHIA—Fielding emotionally charged questions from a group of more than 500, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) jumped into the heated debate over health care reform at a town-hall style meeting here Wednesday night.

At the Broad Street Ministry in Center City, Sestak weathered a barrage of criticism from concerned Philadelphians and members of his own suburban Congressional district, but still faced a somewhat less hostile reception than many of his colleagues have during the August recess.…

Suburban Snapshot talks health care in Philly

PHILADELPHIA—With a venue like the Broad Street Ministry, Wednesday night’s health care forum with Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) was definitely an event to attend.

The line wrapped around the Center City corner here, across from the Kimmel Center on Broad Street. Protesters and supporters alike were numerous outside, with signs held high for La Rouche PAC, ACORN, Health Insurance Reform Now and Planned Parenthood.

There were also handful of members from the Loyal Opposition, a…

Sestak says Dems haven’t explained health care reform well

PHILADELPHIA—In a moment of humility, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) said Wednesday that Democrats in Washington have done far too little to educate the public about the party’s plans for health care reform.

Instead, he said at a town-hall style meeting here that he and his colleagues in Congress have been “inadequate” at getting the message out, answer poignant questions and clarifying misconceptions about the still-emerging legislation.

“We haven’t done enough, we’ve not been accountable and…

Rasmussen shows Specter up 13 in Senate primary

Senator Arlen Specter maintains a double-digit lead over Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) in next year’s Democratic primary, according to a new poll.

The

Auditor General Jack Wagner Urges Gov. Rendell, General Assembly to Consider Suggestions to Balance Budget

By THE OFFICE OF AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER

HARRISBURG, Aug. 12, 2009 – Auditor General Jack Wagner said today that Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly should consider recent revenue suggestions made by him and several Pennsylvania newspapers as a way of ending the commonwealth’s six-week budget impasse.

Pennsylvania has been without a budget since June 30, although Gov. Rendell did sign a bare-bones “bridge” budget on Aug. 5 that provides funding for state employee…

DelCo GOP head says Meehan has ‘inside track’ on PA-7

Delaware County GOP chairman Tom Judge on Tuesday confirmed the growing insider chatter that former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan is almost certainly running for Congress in the 7th District, and called Meehan the early odds-on-favorite to win both the party’s nomination and general election next year.

“It’s a tremendous upswing for us, because he’s a knowledgeable candidate, he knows the district well, and his name-ID is very big,” Judge told pa2010.com. “Pat Meehan certainly has…

Specter’s town hall performance shows limits of reelection campaign

An interesting juxtaposition of stories this week, all involving our old friend Arlen Specter.

While Terry Madonna and Michael Young lament Specter’s status as the