Doherty’s campaign manager out, he turns to sister (Updated)

HARRISBURG—Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty confirmed rumors Friday that his gubernatorial campaign manager was no longer on staff, and said his sister who ran his previous mayoral races had assumed the position.

Doherty said that Corey Platt, who had been managing the campaign the last few months, returned to Missouri. Platt could not be reached for comment, but Doherty called the parting of ways “very friendly.”

His sister, Virginia McGregor, is now running the campaign. Though…

January 29, 2010 at 11:30 pm | Comments (10)

Hoeffel jabs Doherty, Onorato on abortion

HARRISBURG—When Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel said that “consistency” is important regarding one’s stance on abortion-rights, it was fairly obvious who he was taking a poke at: his gubernatorial opponents Dan Onorato and Chris Doherty.

“They have straddled the issue,” Hoeffel charged in an interview after making the remark during a

January 29, 2010 at 11:15 pm | Comments (3)

Another local Dem leader endorses Wagner

Schuylkill County Democratic Party leaders endorsed Jack Wagner for governor this week, giving the Auditor General the backing of yet another local party leadership structure ahead of next month’s Democratic State Committee meeting.

Wagner has now been endorsed by the leader of more than a dozen county parties, even as he trails his opponents in fundraising and campaign infrastructure. But the growing level of support among party leaders makes it likely that Wagner will emerge…

January 28, 2010 at 12:18 pm | Comments (4)

Aichele claims massive edge in internal poll

Chester County Commissioner Carol Aichele released an internal poll memo Wednesday that showed her enjoying blowout-size approval ratings compared to her Republican rivals for Lieutenant Governor, but a review of the survey’s details makes it clear that the methodology was tilted in her favor.

The survey, conducted by the GOP firm Susquehanna Polling & Research on Aichele’s behalf, polled a wide swath of Republicans, Democrats and independents, in what was a bid by the Aichele…

January 27, 2010 at 11:10 pm | Comments (55)

Williams to make decision on guv race in a few weeks

Democratic primary voters go to the polls to nominate a candidate for governor in less than four months, but state Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) doesn’t seem to be in too much of a hurry to decide whether or not he’s going to run.

Williams, who has been making waves in local political circles by suggesting he might jump into the race after businessman Tom Knox jumped out, would have to play an intense game of…

January 27, 2010 at 1:12 pm | Comments (0)

Corbett leads guv primary, but vast majority undecided

Attorney General Tom Corbett holds a comfortable edge in the Republican primary for governor, but most voters are still undecided less than four months before primary day, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey released Wednesday showed Corbett—widely considered the party’s presumptive nominee—garnering 23 percent of the vote, compared to only 5 percent for state Representative Sam Rohrer (R-Berks). Almost 70 percent of voters are undecided in the race.

The depth…

January 27, 2010 at 9:16 am | Comments (2)

Onorato leads a wide open primary

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato is leading the Democratic primary for governor, but almost three-quarters of voters remain undecided, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey released Wednesday showed Onorato winning 10 percent of the vote, more than twice the support enjoyed by any other candidate in the race. But 72 percent of voters said they didn’t know who they would back come primary day. The poll of 443 registered Democrats…

January 27, 2010 at 9:02 am | Comments (6)

Hoeffel kicks off campaign, saying he ‘stands with all the women of this state’

PHILADELPHIA—Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel formally kicked off his gubernatorial campaign Tuesday, playing up his socially liberal stances during appearances in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg before an evening rally here.

After being joined by several state lawmakers in Harrisburg, Hoeffel basked in an impassioned plea to support him from longtime abortion rights activist Kate Michelman. Warning against other Democrats who “claim” to be pro-choice, Michelman said that “Joe is the only one who’s been with us…

January 26, 2010 at 9:00 pm | Comments (9)

A day of gubernatorial endorsements

Tuesday was chock-full of endorsements for the Democratic candidates for governor, with Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Auditor General Jack Wagner and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel all rolling out newly-announced supporters.

Onorato trekked from Easton to Allentown, winning the backing of, among others, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Easton Mayor Sal Panto and city council members from both towns. He was also endorsed by political leaders from southeastern Pennsylvania’s Latino community, starting a “Latinos for…

January 26, 2010 at 6:27 pm | Comments (2)

Video and audio from Saidel’s announcement

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January 26, 2010 at 8:30 am | Comments (0)