Sestak’s ‘church’ talk raises eyebrows at Dauphin County Dems dinner

We’re considering starting a “Pander Poll” to start tracking the various and sundry ways some of our top-flight pols play to a particular audience.

This week’s prize (so far) goes to Joe Sestak, who was in Harrisburg Monday night for the Dauphin County Democratic Committee’s annual fall dinner. The Senate candidate took his turn at the podium after Harrisburg mayoral candidate Linda Thompson spoke and before Harrisburg’s Mayor Stephen R. Reed made some impromptu remarks.…

Toomey says he raised $1.5M in 3Q

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey said Wednesday that his campaign brought in $1.5 million during the third quarter, giving the campaign $3.1 in total contributions during the cycle so far.

The campaign also said it had more than 20,000 contributors, a third more than Toomey’s total donor base during his 2004 Senate race.

Republican support has rallied behind Toomey in recent months as he has gradually become the presumptive GOP nominee.

“I am honored by…

Toomey Campaign Raises over $1.5 Million in Third Quarter

By TOOMEY FOR SENATE

Allentown, PA – U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey announced today that his campaign has raised over $1.5 million for the third quarter of 2009.  To date, the campaign has raised over $3.1 million from over 20,000 contributors since Mr. Toomey announced his Senate candidacy five and a half months ago.  Toomey already has 33 percent more contributors than the total number of donors amassed during the entirety of his 2004 Senate…

The First Read — October 7, 2009

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Lentz says he’s raised $250K
State Representative Bryan Lentz’s (D-Delaware) Congressional campaign said Tuesday that it has raised $250,000, a total higher than his likely Republican opponent Pat Meehan.…

TUESDAY LEFTOVERS: Corbett’s video, more endorsements & yet another candidate in PA-6?

What a day, political junkies! Arlen Specter used to be a Republican?

Naturally, some stuff slipped by us in this cacophony of political madness.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett has new campaign Web video up about Pennsylvania. It’s moving stuff.

Knox won’t go negative, except against Corbett

We got ourselves a money race for the Governor’s Mansion, but don’t expect Philadelphia’s Tom Knox to go negative on Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

“We’ll save that for Tom Corbett,” said Knox, who is not exactly a barn-burner stump man, but we have to give him credit for that one-liner.

Knox has the millions to self-fund his gubernatorial run, while Onorato officially checked into the race Tuesday with $5 million or so in his…

As Bonusgate nears 1,000 days, activist challenges Corbett

More than 30 months since news of his legislative corruption probe first broke, state Attorney General Tom Corbett was once again hounded Tuesday for not moving fast enough when a political activist called on him to issue a new round of indictments or resign his office while he campaigns for governor.

“All doubt must be removed from the mind of the voter that the investigation is political,” said activist Gene Stilp, noting that Oct. 21…

Lentz says he’s raised $250K

State Representative Bryan Lentz’s (D-Delaware) Congressional campaign said Tuesday that it has raised $250,000, a total higher than his likely Republican opponent Pat Meehan.

“I am genuinely humbled by the tremendous outpouring of encouragement and support that I have already received,” Lentz, who is running in the 7th District, said in a statement. “I cannot thank people enough for the trust and confidence that they have already placed in me.  Together we can change Washington…

Climate legislation as a flash point in Senate race?

So I was going to write a story about how climate change appears to be one of the few ares where Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak really differ (that’s right folks, a real policy story). It seems to me that this is an area where Sestak can really try and differentiate himself in next year’s primary, as he’s already tried to do by calling out Specter to fully support legislation emerging from the Senate.

Alas,…

Pat Meehan Raises More than $200,000 in 16 Days in Campaign for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District

By MEEHAN FOR CONGRESS

DREXEL HILL, PA – Pat Meehan, the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and former District Attorney of Delaware County, has raised more than $200,000 in the 16 days since he announced his candidacy for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.  In addition to his fundraising strength, Meehan’s candidacy has grabbed the attention of many political analysts, who now rate the seat as a toss-up or one of…