Rohrer camp wants supporters to look out for opposition researchers

State Representative Sam Rohrer’s (R-Berks) gubernatorial campaign said Friday that party front-runner Tom Corbett’s campaign had begun opposition research of the conservative underdog, and asked its supporters to be on the lookout for any negative campaign messaging in the weeks to come.

In a memo to supporters, Rohrer’s senior adviser Jeff Coleman said an operative for Corbett, the state Attorney General, had filed a “right-to-know” request with the state House.

“This development signals that a…

Gerlach wins a ChesCo straw poll, but Welch claims a strong showing

Congressman Jim Geralch (R-6) won a straw poll vote of local GOP committee members in Chester County’s Downingtown region Thursday night, but Republican Steven Welch’s campaign posted a relatively strong showing that could further encourage the wealthy entrepreneur to continue his campaign despite Gerlach’s decision to seek reelection.

Welch’s campaign e-mailed reporters Friday to say he had won almost 40 percent of the votes cast by local committee members. An exact breakdown of the votes…

Dems in big trouble in Massachusetts

President Obama and congressional Democrats continue to pConsidering how poorly Democrats have performed over the last year due to growing opposition to their out-of-control spending and their big-government policies, it should come as no surprise that the Massachusetts special election this week for the U.S. Senate has become a a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/011410-massachusetts-special-election-poll.html" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://voices.washingtonpost.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fvoices.washingtonpost.com%2Fthefix%2Fmorning-fix%2F011410-massachusetts-special-election-poll.html','hotly+contested+battle+involving%C2%A0Republican')"hotly contested battle involving Republican/a state Senator Scott Brown. Brown’s opposition to government-run health care, higher taxes and massive spending has sent his recognition and popularity into the stratosphere, enabling him to compete in one of the bluest states in the country. Voter registration numbers don’t seem to matter, as Democrats are crossing party lines to support the Republican candidate in an effort to send a message to Democrats in Washington that they are tired of their excessive spending./p
pThe surge of GOP support in Massachusetts is not surprising given Washington’s tax-and-spend agenda and the fact that the Democrat running for the open Senate seat is Attorney General Martha Coakley. In short, Coakley is an elitist liberal who had naively a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1225736&format=text" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.bostonherald.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bostonherald.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fview.bg%3Farticleid%3D1225736%26amp%3Bformat%3Dtext','assumed+the+seat+would+be+handed+to+her')">assumed the seat would be handed to her. She has proven to be a terrible candidate with absurd views. She recently alluded during an interview the idea that pIn contrast, Republican candidate Scott Brown will be the 41stsup/sup vote for Senate Republicans, a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704363504575003304065666236.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign_4" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://online.wsj.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704363504575003304065666236.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign_4','effectively+ending+the+Democrats%22+short-lived')"effectively ending the Democrats’ short-lived/a tyranny over the American people. He could potentially be the death knell for the health care bill itself, although state Democrats of Massachusetts are a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1224249" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.bostonherald.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bostonherald.com%2Fbusiness%2Fhealthcare%2Fview.bg%3Farticleid%3D1224249','promising+to+eschew+the+voter%E2%80%99s+wishes')">promising to eschew the voter’s wishes and delay his appointment. This is yet another example of the Democrats’ ravenous appetite for more government and more power at the expense of the American people.

Brown’s election would be an enormous

Pa. candidates get involved in Mass. Senate race (Updated)

A surprisingly competitive U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts that could affect the outcome of health care reform legislation is drawing the interest of the Keystone State’s 2010 hopefuls—and prompting some of them to ask their own supporters to pitch into the fight.

As

Schenker drops out of Lt. Gov. race

Former Erie County Executive Rick Schenker has withdrawn from the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor, narrowing a field that remains crowded a month before GOP leaders meet to make a formal endorsement next month.

In a

Welch Caucus Performance Stuns Observers

By WELCH FOR PA

PAOLI, PA – Steve Welch, Republican candidate for Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, announced today that he secured nearly 40 percent in a regional Chester County straw poll held by Republican committee members.  The results showed that his campaign is gaining traction and attention from the grassroots level.

“I have always said that this campaign is about engaging voters and sharing our ideas about how we can turn around this economy,” said…

Second Media Market Offers Senatorial Debate at Franklin & Marshall

By SESTAK FOR SENATE

MEDIA, PA — This week, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak proposed a series of at least six debates with Senator Arlen Specter, one in each of Pennsylvania’s media markets, in order to provide as many voters as possible the opportunity to learn more about the clear distinctions between the candidates. Joe has accepted an offer to debate in Philadelphia, and has welcomed a preliminary offer by WITF to broadcast…

The not-so-secret is out: Dems don’t see a primary in PA-7

There are three Democrats running for the party’s nomination in the 7th Congressional District, and one who’s still considering a run, but Thursday quietly brought confirmation of what we had long assumed: Democrats already see state Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) as their candidate.

A Politico Full Story

Meehan says ‘political gamesmanship’ beneath him (Updated)

Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan’s campaign signaled late Thursday that it wasn’t necessary for him to offer up an opinion on a controversial dual officeholder within the 7th District he’s seeking to represent, declining again to directly answer

County commissioners endorse Onorato

A dozen county commissioners from southwestern Pennsylvania threw their support behind Dan Onorato’s gubernatorial campaign Thursday, calling the Allegheny County Executive the “best choice” to revive Pennsylvania’s economy.

The endorsements added to Onorato’s growing support four months before the Democratic primary. His campaign said the officials represent almost half-a-million Democratic voters.

“Dan has a record of accomplishment, a commitment to reform and a focus on creating jobs that has served him well in Allegheny County…