Nutter and Evans endorse Williams for governor (Updated)

PHILADELPHIA—Mayor Michael Nutter and state Representative Dwight Evans both threw their support behind Democrat Anthony Williams’ nascent gubernatorial bid, giving the state Senator the backing of two of the city’s top political leaders.

The endorsements, delivered after all three took a tour of labs at the business-incubating Science Center here, came a couple months after Williams unexpectedly started making noise about a run, and with less than two months before primary voters go to the…

DNC targeting Dent, Gerlach on health care (Updated)

Two Pennsylvania Republicans are among 10 being targeted Thursday by radio ads from the Democratic National Committee.

Constituents of Congressmen Charlie Dent (R-15) and Jim Gerlach (R-6) will hear the radio ads starting Thursday morning, the DNC said. It did not specify the size of the ad buy.

“For too long, American families and businesses have been crushed by skyrocketing health insurance costs—and millions of consumers have been preyed upon by insurance companies,” the ad…

Issa set to ask for special prosecutor on Sestak’s job-offer claim

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is keeping up his push to find out more about whether Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) was really offered a job in exchange for dropping his Senate primary run against Arlen Specter.

Issa

Dahlkemper will stay on the ballot

An effort by Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper’s (D-3) primary opponent to keep her off the May ballot has proven unsuccessful.

The Erie Times-News

LEFTOVERS: Hoeffel on transporation, Dems mock a Burns typo, blogger drafting Shea

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel headed to a closed, dilapidated bridge in West Philadelphia Wednesday to pitch his transportation plan. The Democratic candidate for governor wants to double the amount of money allocated to the state Department of Transportation, which he’d raise partly by increasing gasoline taxes and other fees.

“I believe in a safe, efficient, green and sustainable transportation infrastructure,” Hoeffel said in a statement later. “As an aging state with much of our…

Chicago tactics from the Dems

Last week my pa2010.com colleague Beth Hegedus reported on

Nutter to endorse Williams for guv

State Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) is set to receive the first big endorsement of his nascent gubernatorial campaign.

PoliticsPA

Pennsylvania needs a new car

Have you ever had to drive a junker? I have over the years. Lots of them. I’d keep them running through knuckle-busting self-repairs and the wonders of duct tape and wire ties, milking each one for every mile I could squeeze out of it. Money was always tight, and the price of a new vehicle was the determining factor in keeping me in junkers. But each would eventually leave me on the side of the…

For PA-12 hopefuls, not being the special election nominee means a daunting path

When Gov. Ed Rendell decided to hold the 12th Congressional District special election on the same day as the May primary, he was looking to save Pennsylvania the hefty price tag associated with another stand-alone election—not to mention his likely interest in giving his party the edge from the higher turnouts its expecting for competitive statewide primaries.

But his decision also had another consequence—giving the special election candidates in the 12th a huge advantage in…

Service union endorses Lentz

Pennsylvania’s chapter of the powerful Service Employees International Union is supporting state Representative Bryan Lentz’s (D-Delaware) congressional bid.

The SEIU announced its endorsement of Lentz Wednesday. With the two other Democrats in the 7th District primary underfunded and not expected to make much of a showing in May, Lentz has been easily racking up support from organized labor. Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan is the only Republican in the race.

“We are very proud to…