Five Tuesday X-Factors

Millions have been spent, hundreds of campaign miles have been traversed, and now, the day has arrived.

Here are five dynamics that could prove to be political X-Factors in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primaries.

1. Rain, rain, go away

While hardly a downpour, it was raining lightly throughout the morning in the Philadelphia region, and one forecast was calling for up to an inch throughout the day. Arlen Specter needs a big turnout in the city to…

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An electoral Triple Crown

Well folks, it’s the political tri-fecta today. What the Triple Crown in horseracing is (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes), Tuesday will be in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Congress. The candidates have discussed, schmoozed, talked, talked, and talked some more. They’ve hugged babies, had tea with seniors, shared Guiness with constituents, and they were ready—ready to “go the distance” when the polls opened at 7 a.m.

This is the…

Buying the office?

It’s been conventional wisdom here in the 12th Congressional District that Republican Tim Burns’ ability to self-finance his campaign for the special election to serve out the remainder of the late Congressman John Murtha’s term in office was behind the GOP’s rationale to choose him over conservative grassroots favorite Bill Russell.

And considering the pBurns…

Philly labor leader pens e-mail for Specter

If you’re a powerful Philadelphia labor leader, it’s never too late to give your horse in the Senate race a little boost.

Electrical workers union boss John Dougherty wrote to supporters Monday on the eve of primary day to voice his support for incumbent Arlen Specter, and said that Specter’s clout and history of delivering for the region is even more critical now that former state Senator Vince Fumo (a bitter Dougherty foe) is behind…

Final thoughts

With primary day upon us, I’ve considered everything and come up with a simple conclusion. Joe Sestak vs. Arlen Specter will go down as one of the nastiest primary races ever. It comes down to a simple fact, that Sestak supporters hate Specter more than anything, and Specter supporters can’t stand Specter either. My gut says Sestak wins, but my head says Specter.

But, when it is all said and done, all eyes will turn…

The top 5 campaign Web sites

In its most basic form, a campaign Web site is little more than a bare-bones, online biography of a political candidate and a description of his or her stances on the issues. Such rudimentary creations do little to inspire in this digital world of contemporary politics.

But at its best, a campaign Web site is so much more. It is a gateway into a candidate’s political persona, a gathering place for supporters, a strategic hub…

Obama’s campaign arm antes up for Specter

Despite President Obama’s decision not to make a late-game campaign stop for Senator Arlen Specter, the White House has made a Specter victory on Tuesday one of the top priorities for Obama’s political organization.

Organizing for America, Obama’s arm of the Democratic National Committee, had poured about two dozen staffers into Pennsylvania during the closing days of the campaign, according to Democrats familiar with the effort. The organization also has field staff working on the…

LEFTOVERS: Plouffe boosts Specter, late-game endorsements for Onorato and Wagner

Almost out of nowhere in the last 24 hours, a strong “Obama-has-given-up-on-Specter” meme took hold in the press. It’s the natural media overreaction to the premature counting out of Joe Sestak months ago. Yes, Arlen Specter very well could lose on Tuesday, and anyone who supports him is mentally “preparing” for that, the same way you prepare for any possibility. But everyone should calm down. Virtually nothing changed in the complexion of this race between…

Lunch at the Reading Terminal: An electoral requirement

PHILADELPHIA—If there’s one thing every candidate—Democrat or Republican, up-ballot or down-ballot—can agree on, it’s that stumping at the stories Reading Terminal Market is mandatory political fare in this city.

For seemingly as long as there’s been both politics and a Reading Terminal Market downtown here, candidates have put in last-minute face time with the Philly crowd, the perfect spot to pound a few pre-election day carbs. On Monday it was Democratic gubernatorial candidates Joe Hoeffel…