LEFTOVERS: NRCC hypes Fitzpatrick, PA NOW for Hoeffel, postal workers for Sestak

The National Republican Congressional Committee is trying to draw attention to its leading contender in the 8th Congressional District. The NRCC said that former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick had reached “On The Radar” status and is on the way to joining its “Young Guns” program. These different designations are tough to follow, but the NRCC lays out organizational and financial benchmarks for achieving them. And hey, it gets their candidates a mention in the press here…

12th District primer: Get ready for a mad dash

This could get complicated—and maybe a little confusing.

Because of a confluence of state law and party politics, it’s likely a special election to replace

John Murtha dies at 77

John Patrick “Jack” Murtha Jr., the longtime 12th District Democratic congressman sometimes known as the “King of Pork” for his unmatched ability to bring federal dollars home to his western Pennsylvania district, died Monday. He was 77.

Murtha had been in stable condition at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington after suffering complications from recent gallbladder surgery. His office announced Murtha’s passing Monday afternoon, saying he had died at 1:18 p.m., “peacefully” and with his family…

Wecht trial could be a political headache for Buchanan

In January 2006, then-U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan charged former Allegheny County Croner Cyril Wecht with 84 counts of fraud and theft, alleging that he used his public office for private gain. The legal saga lasted more than three years, during which Wecht’s lawyers claimed the charges were politically motivated, and much of the prosecution’s evidence was eventually thrown out due Full Story

The medical elephant in Specter’s room (Updated)

There was an 800-pound gorilla in the room in Lancaster last weekend, and nobody talked about it

The Democratic State Committee and the national Democratic machine made a major mistake in supporting Arlen Specter for reelection. In fact they made several mistakes, but other, more practiced commentators will deal with the politics (although it seems pretty clear from the polls that he can’t beat Republican Pat Toomey).

I’m talking about the medical mistake. Out of deference, or politeness, or concern about how various interest groups would react, Joe Sestak’s campaign has opted not to make an issue of Specter’s age and medical condition.

But it needs to be a major issue.

Prominent GOP consultants working for Trevorrow in 3rd District

Republican Tom Trevorrow unveiled a consulting team Monday that includes some of the party’s top operatives in Pennsylvania, raising the ante on his primary bid to take on Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3).

Trevorrow, an Erie ophthalmologist, only announced his candidacy last week—and

Catching up with campaign finance data

All the traveling days and slow publication of state campaign finance reports online has so far kept us from giving as thorough a review of the gubernatorial candidates’ finances finances as we had hoped.

But in the meantime,

Service unions back Onorato

Three local chapters of the Service Employees International Union endorsed Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato for governor Monday, two days after the state Democratic Party failed to endorse a candidate in the race.

The three organizations, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, 32BJ, and Workers United Pennsylvania Joint Board, represent more than 43,000 health care, building service, food service and hospitality workers in Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania’s working families need a leader who will fight to bring and keep good…

Meehan takes to the op-ed pages

Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan seems a tad op-ed-happy today.

The Republican candidate in the 7th District has not one, but two pieces running in area newspapers.

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On the Rick Smith show

While at the Democratic State Committee meeting last weekend, I briefly appeared on The Rick Smith Show.

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