Sestak and Toomey will debate again

For the second time this cycle, Democrat Joe Sestak and Republican Pat Toomey will come together for beers and a debate.

The two Senate hopefuls and Arlen Specter rivals shared a beer in Allentown last September and then debated health care. With Sestak unable to coax Specter into more than one additional debate between now and their May primary showdown,

Northeast Pa. Teachers and Firefighters Endorse Specter

By ARLEN SPECTER FOR SENATE

Dunmore – Unions representing nearly 2,000 area firefighters and teachers endorsed Senator Arlen Specter today in northeast Pennsylvania.

The Northeast Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association (NEPPFFA) represents more than 800 members in that part of the state and is squarely behind Senator Specter. Dave Gervasi, NEPPFFA President said, “Senator Specter has a long and outstanding history of supporting firefighters, labor, and working families in out state and nation. Senator Specter stands…

Pat Toomey Responds to Sestak’s Debate Letter

By TOOMEY FOR SENATE

Allentown, PA – U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey sent a letter in response to Rep. Joe Sestak’s invitation to debate.  The letter is below.

Congressman Joe Sestak
428 E. Baltimore Ave.
Media, PA 19063

Dear Joe:

Thank you for your letter of February 18th inviting me to join you in a debate.  I can certainly understand your frustration with Senator Arlen Specter’s refusal to engage in debates with you. …

Introducing the pa2010.com Webcast

Hello to all you political junkies out there, and welcome to the first ever pa2010.com Webcast!

It’s here that we’ll be joined from time to time by newsmakers, opinion leaders and political insiders of every stripe to discuss the issues surrounding the big 2010 elections. Below is part one of our first episode. Log-on throughout the week to see the rest.

In our first episode, hosted by pa2010.com editor Dan Hirschhorn, we were joined, from…

The low-down on Sestak’s flight jacket

WEST CHESTER—What’s with the jacket?

For more than two weeks now, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) and his green jacket with the USS George Washington patch have been seemingly inseparable. It started when he chatted with reporters after Democratic State Committee endorsed primary opponent Arlen Specter earlier this month. Ever since then, it’s been a staple of campaign stops.

Asked about the new dress code while he waited to address Chester County Democrats here Saturday—wearing the…

2012 Watch: Santorum stumping, an opponent for Casey

In politics, it’s never too  early to start thinking about the future. And so, former Senator Rick Santorum has been on the 2012 presidential circuit, with appearances in Iowa, New Hampshire and, of course, the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend.

“Against the advice of my wife,” Santorum

An early staff shake-up for Gordon

WEST CHESTER—Brian Gordon is the first to admit that the late start to his campaign has also been a rough start.

The Lower Merion Township Commissioner got into a competitive Democratic primary for Congress in the 6th District late last year, after two other candidates were well into building networks of support. The first challenge for Gordon has been staffing. He had an interim campaign manager who left at the end of last month as…

A potential spoiler needs signatures first

In the closely-watched 15th District House race, Democrats hope they finally have a serious challenger for incumbent Republican Charlie Dent in Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. And if the race ends up being a close one on Election Day, there could be a spoiler in the works—independent Jake Towne.

Towne, an engineer, has a political identity rooted in Tea Party activism, appearing on Fox News‘ “Freedom Watch.” Unlike most candidates identified with the Tea Party in…

Underdogs gear up in the 17th

To political watchers, the race in the 17th Congressional District is a showdown between incumbent Democrat Tim Holden and state Senator Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill)—as well as one more competitive House race in a state full of them.

But before the two can face each other in November, they’ll each have to face a primary against underdogs determined to make a dent. Argall’s GOP opponents recently made their first mark, when the Dauphin County Republican Committee…

The 99 percent rule

Call it the 99 percent rule. Ninety-nine percent of criminal trials only matter to a small cadre of participants. Defendants, victims, judges, defense lawyers, and prosecutors all play their respective roles. And, of course, society has an abstract stake in it all. But win, lose or draw, it is this finite group for whom the personal stakes are the highest and the outcome truly matters.

But not this trial.

The well-publicized…