The First Read — September 21, 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.

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EXCLUSIVE: Hoeffel will run for governor
Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel has decided to seek the Democratic nomination for governor, jumping into an increasingly crowded primary field as he seeks to portray himself as a progressive standard-bearer for the party. Read More

With Welch in, should Pike shift strategy?
Democrat Doug Pike was supposed to be the only 6th District candidate with a boat-load of his own money in play. But now that Republican Steven Welch has jumped into the race, should Pike be trying to knock him off early? Read More

Legislative staffers spend a weekend working the budget
Final enactment of Pennsylvania’s overdue budget is expected by the end of the month. Read More
More budget news: How legislators broke the logjam
Budget process dysfunctional

Obama calls Pittsburgh a model for the future
Pittsburgh was chosen as the site for the G-20 summit to show the world its successful economic transition and to display how America’s future rests not just on its most populous cities, President Obama said. Read More

O’Brien files for run against Kanjorski
Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien took another step toward a primary run against Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) last week, when he filed FEC papers forming a campaign committee. Read More

First wave of G-20 protests begin
The first wave of protesters in Pittsburgh for this week’s Group of 20 summit said they want to set a positive tone focused on their message, not violence. Read More

Smerconish, Specter and Santorum, oh my!
A moderate is someone who takes principled centrist positions, not someone who jumps around with popular fashion. Read More
Also on pa2010.com: Why Hoeffel?

Has Specter lost his edge?
With his strangely wild prediction about the controversial labor reform bill called the Employee Free Choice Act, the word is that Specter was so off-message that he even floored his own Senate and campaign staff. Read More

Lentz nabs local labor endorsement
State Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) was endorsed by a local AFL-CIO chapter last week, setting him up to argue that he’s a candidate for labor even before he’s declared his candidacy. Read More

Toomey stumps in Lancaster
Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Pat Toomey said the Democratic majority in Washington is leading the nation on an unprecedented lurch to the left, and he challenged conservatives to fight back — at tea parties and town halls and, of course, the voting booth in 2010. Read More

DiBileo to challenge Doherty with mayoral write-in campaign
Accusing Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty of deceiving voters by running for governor before his reelection is official, former city Councilman Gary DiBileo said Friday he will run a write-in campaign for mayor. Read More

Have a great day!