The First Read — October 26, 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.

Doherty welcomes Onorato to Philly
Apparently Dan Onorato isn’t the only Democratic candidate for governor with an office in Philadelphia. Read More

LEFTOVERS: Slow news week edition
While dishing out his share of attacks, Arlen Specter, for his part, has seemed more interested in continuing to shore up support from the party’s liberal base. Read More

Governor’s race a referendum on Rendell?
Even his adversaries acknowledge that he’s aggressive. So it is unsurprising that Gov. Ed Rendell is using up every drop of his time in office to press a busy agenda deep into his second term, even as state government grapples with what the Democrat calls its worst financial shortfall since the Great Depression. That combination could be acidic for any candidate trying to avoid controversy in a campaign in which all will inevitably be asked their opinions about a governor who has recently navigated thorny issues of taxes and spending. Read More

Specter’s been a reliable vote for Dems
In nearly 30 years as a Senate Republican, Arlen Specter was tough to pin down, frequently breaking ranks with his party and giving its leadership fits. Yet in the half-year since he crossed the aisle, Mr. Specter has become a remarkably reliable Democratic vote. Read More

Evans vows ‘we will not miss’ budget deadline next year
Fresh from breaking a budget impasse that extended 101 days past deadline, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans’ words sounded almost like a setup for a joke. Read More

Rendell, until the bitter end
In a Voices piece, political analysts G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young explore the effect that Gov. Ed Rendell may have on next year’s race for governor. Read More

Four seek two seats on Commonwealth Court
It’s a court that gets little public recognition even though it handles more than 3,000 cases each year. Some people don’t even know what the Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania does. Still, four candidates are vying for two open spots on the bench in the Nov. 3 election. Read More

GOP candidates for Philly D.A., controller contributing heavily to their own campaigns
The Republican candidates for Philadelphia district attorney and city controller are contributing heavily to their own campaigns and gamely spending dollars in an effort to overcome their registration disadvantage, according to campaign-finance reports. Read More
More Philly news: Inky endorses Republican for controller

Washo neutral as O’Brien, Kanjorski battle
You might think Lackawanna County Commissioner Mike Washo will endorse Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) for re-election next year because Washo is an incumbent Democrat and Kanjorski is, too, and incumbents support fellow incumbents. Maybe you’re thinking Washo will remember that his daughter, Martha, interned in the congressman’s office over the summer, and he’ll feel obligated to endorse Kanjorski. Or maybe he’ll feel obligated to endorse fellow incumbent Democratic Commissioner Corey O’Brien, his partner in politics and government. But if you thought Washo is supporting either, you would be wrong. He claims he’s staying out of it. Read More
More PA-11 news: Another run for Barletta?

Metcalfe outburst spurs a Dem opponent
Daryl Metcalfe’s email outburst about veterans being “traitors” for advocating climate change legislation—and refusal to apologize for it—is getting him a race next year from a worker for a the Blind Association of Butler and Armstrong. Read More

Have a great day!