Sestak leads Specter by two, poll says

UPDATE APPENDED (See bottom)

Democrat Joe Sestak holds a statistically insignificant two-point lead over incumbent Senator Arlen Specter in next week’s primary, according to a new poll.

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GOP goes after Rohrer in mailer

The state Republican Party is going directly after underdog conservative gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer in a direct-mail campaign, rehashing his vote for the controversial 2005 legislative pay raise and saying that “the choice for governor could not be more clear.”

The campaign mailer, first reported by Capitolwire (subscription only), marks the first time that the state party has used any significant kind of paid media to attack Rohrer in his insurgent bid against state Attorney…

Rendell stumping for Specter Friday night

President Obama won’t be coming to town, but Arlen Specter still gets the guvnah.

Gov. Ed Rendell will headline a Specter campaign rally Friday night in Philadelphia. It’s all about get-out-the-vote, with plans to organize ward maps and phone-bank sheets in preparation for a big weekend of city canvassing.

The event is at 7:15 at the local IBEW hall on Spring Garden Street.

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O’Brien hopes energetic field campaign can overcome Kanjorski

SCRANTON—Corey O’Brien is moving, and he’s moving fast. It’s a sunny Tuesday afternoon in May, and a brief rain shower has just let up. O’Brien is racing—literally, running—down the streets of a Scranton neighborhood in full work garb, tossing a football back-and-forth with campaign aides who struggle to keep up while an RV plastered with his face trails behind him playing contemporary Rock and Roll.

“You should have worn your sneakers today,” one aide remarks…

Muhlenberg Tracking Poll: Specter back on top, Onorato still up 25

Every day from now until the May 18 primary, pa2010.com will publish the results of the Muhlenberg College tracking poll on the statewide Democratic primaries. To follow our posts on these surveys, click on

Former Congressional Candidate Brian Lasher Supports Mike Kelly

By KELLY FOR CONGRESS

ERIE – Today, Brian Lasher, former Republican Congressional Candidate, announced his support for Mike Kelly in the race for the 3rd Congressional District.

Brian Lasher, a member of the United States Navy and teacher at Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy said, “In a competitive field of outstanding candidates, I fully endorse Mike Kelly for the Republican nomination for the 3rd Congressional District.  First, Mike demonstrates strong family values and is loyal to…

LEFTOVERS: Specter likes Kagan, Schwartz likes Specter, disability advocates like Hoeffel

Arlen Specter seems to be laying the ground work for a vote in favor of Elena Kagan’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. The blogosphere got into a tizzy when Kagan was nominated, given the fact that Specter voted against her confirmation as Solicitor General. Full Story

More money pours into the 12th

A few days before the special election, it’s still raining cash in the 12th Congressional District.

The state Republican Party gave its candidate, wealthy businessman Tim Burns, $10,000 on Thursday, according to

Rothfus calls Buchanan campaign mailer ‘deceitful’

Republican congressional candidate Keith Rothfus continued what has become a fierce campaign against 4th District primary opponent Mary Beth Buchanan Thursday, criticizing the former U.S. Attorney for using the National Rifle Association’s logo on a piece of campaign literature.

In a statement, the Edgeworth attorney’s campaign called Buchanan “desperate and deceitful” for using the prominent gun lobby’s logo on Full Story

Diamond endorses Rohrer for guv

It’s usually a given that candidates for Lieutenant Governor will do whatever they can to suck up to their party’s likely top-ticket gubernatorial nominee. But reform advocate Russ Diamond is taking another tack: he’s with underdog Sam Rohrer.

Diamond, one of nine Republicans running for Lt. Gov., endorsed the conservative state Representative over front-runner Tom Corbett in a statement on Thursday.

“Sam Rohrer is one of the most sincere, principled individuals I’ve ever met,” Diamond…