Kortz, other lawmakers endorse Specter

Senator Arlen Specter won the backing of a former primary rival Sunday, when state Representative Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) and four other state lawmakers endorsed Specter’s reelection bid.

Kortz, who had been something of a super-underdog n the Democratic primary between Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7),

LEFTOVERS: Morganelli & Onorato clash, more Dems for Wagner, Gordon announces, Senate’s a tossup

There was quite a kerfuffle over the 2008 campaign last week, as Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Dan Onorato spent a couple days jostling with John Morganelli, his party’s nominee for Attorney General in 2008.

The reason? Morganelli says that Onorato secretly supported incumbent Republican Tom Corbett over him, even inviting Morganelli to a few fundraisers that proved fruitless. This would be both surprising and counter-intuitive, since both Onorato and Corbett were already looking down the road…

Sestak has $5.1M on hand

Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) raised more than $650,000 during the last three months of 2009, and finished the year with more than $5.1 million in cash on hand, a campaign aide confirmed.

Sestak has spent lightly, gradually narrowing what remains a significant fundraising gap between him and Senator Arlen Specter, who has about $8.6 million on hand.

For his primary challenge, the aide said, Sestak now has more cash than 1992 Democratic candidate Lynn Yeakel.…

Onorato says his money edge yields ‘the best campaigners’

PITTSBURGH—With more than $8 million in the bank, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato has considerably more campaign cash than any of his Democratic rivals for governor. But Onorato said Sunday that raising the money is only half the battle.

“We may have the most money stored right now, but anyone who has run a statewide race will tell you what’s most important is how that money gets spent,” Onorato told pa2010.com after

Dems come together for another gubernatorial debate

PITTSBURGH—The four Democratic candidates for governor came together here Sunday for their second debate in three days, talking about their stances on passing state budgets, creating jobs and health care policy.

The event, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, the Pitt College Democrats and the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, featured a lively debate between the candidates, facilitated by questions coming directly from audience members. Key issues of discussion also included tax…

Cawley’s still up after two more Lt. Gov. straw votes

After two more straw polls of regional Republican leaders, Bucks County Commissioner Jim Cawley appears to be solidifying enough support to win the party’s endorsement for Lieutenant Governor at the state committee meeting less than two weeks from now.

Cawley did not win either of the regional caucus votes held Saturday in the southwest and northwest. Former Lancaster GOP leader Chet Beiler won the southwest caucus, while Jean Craige Pepper, a former candidate for state…

Carney has about $483K

With his Republican opponents multiplying eight months before Election Day, Congressman Chris Carney (D-10) has a war chest of about half-a-million dollars, according to

Five SWPA Legislators Endorse Senator Arlen Specter

By ARLEN SPECTER FOR SENATE

Wilkins Township – Five southwest Pennsylvania legislators endorsed Senator Arlen Specter for re-election today.

Former Democratic Senate candidate State Rep. Bill Kortz led the endorsements, along with State Senator Jay Costa and State Representatives Paul Costa, Joe Preston and Tim Solobay.

“I am proud to endorse Senator Specter for re-election,” said Kortz.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Senator Specter has the experience, he has the capability of getting things done, he has…

Sestak, Specter take their turns wooing the base (Updated)

HARRISBURG—Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) each had their chance to woo the liberal base of the Democratic Party here Saturday night, when they took turns addressing a gathering of activists less than four months before their primary contest is decided by voters.

The two did not share a stage in debate, but took turns answering the same questions at the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit. In taking questions first, Sestak mixed a wonkish display…

Specter gets bested in fundraising by Toomey; $8.6M on hand

Senator Arlen Specter’s campaign said Saturday that it had raised about $1.1 million during the last three months of 2009, finishing the year with about $8.6 million in cash on hand. The numbers, to be detailed in campaign finance data, represent a slow-down in his fundraising pace and the first quarter in which Republican candidate Pat Toomey has reported a bigger fundraising haul.

They also appear to signal an uptick in his spending less than…