Toomey and Sestak to debate twice this month

There will indeed be at least two debates between the candidates in Pennsylvania’s competitive Senate race.

Democrat Joe Sestak and Republican Pat Toomey will come together for their first debate of the general election cycle Oct. 20. That debate on Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate will be moderated by George Stephanopoulos.

Two days later, the candidates will participate in another debate on Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate.

After debating twice before the May primary as common foes to Senator…

October 4, 2010 at 1:58 pm | Comments (12)

Rasmussen: Toomey up 9 points

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey is holding on to a nine-point lead in the race to be Pennsylvania’s next U.S. Senator, according to a new poll.

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October 1, 2010 at 9:12 am | Comments (28)

Former Navy head endorses Toomey

A former Secretary of the Navy has opted against endorsing the Navy man in Pennsylvania’s Senate race, endorsing Republican Pat Toomey instead.

John Lehman, who headed the Navy during the Reagan administration, threw his support behind Toomey during a morning event in Harrisburg.

“Pat is a man of principle and integrity,” Lehman said in a statement. “His commitment to the principles of limited government, individual freedom, and personal liberty are unwavering. Pat has tremendous respect…

September 30, 2010 at 12:12 pm | Comments (13)

Vets group spending $500K on lit drop for Sestak

A left-leaning military veterans group is spending half-a-million dollars on canvassing efforts to boost Democrat Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign.

VoteVets.org said the campaign literature would be “blistering” in its message, comparing Republican nominee Pat Toomey to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and implying that Toomey puts financial industry interests above those of military servicemembers.

“What do Iran’s President and Pat Toomey have in common?” one piece asks. “Both would keep America dependent on oil.”

Some of…

September 30, 2010 at 11:42 am | Comments (13)

F&M: Toomey up 9, Corbett up 4 among likely voters

The latest public poll adds to the growing body of data indicating a tightening governor’s race, but shows a Senate race with Republicans still firmly in the lead.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey released Wednesday found Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett beating Democrat Onorato by just four points among likely voters, 36 percent to 32 percent. That margin represents one of the closest snapshots taken by a pollster to date, and a seven-point improvement…

September 30, 2010 at 11:05 am | Comments (4)

Sestak uses new ad to lay out ‘the difference’

Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak talks directly to the audience in his latest TV ad, as he continues his efforts to frame his race against Republican Pat Toomey as clear choice between starkly different candidates.

The 30-second spot features Sestak standing in front of a TV set airing a negative ad against him. “Congressman Toomey and his friends on Wall Street on attack ads like these.”

Sestak goes on to rehash Toomey’s past contention that…

September 28, 2010 at 3:31 pm | Comments (24)

Poll: Corbett up 7, Toomey up 5

Republicans continue to hold the edge in Pennsylvania’s competitive statewide races, but a new poll indicates that their leads might be narrowing as Election Day approaches.

The Suffolk University survey released Tuesday found GOP gubernatorial nominee leading Democrat Dan Onorato by seven points, 47 percent to 40 percent. Twelve percent are still undecided. And the poll showed Republican Pat Toomey holding a smaller, five-point lead in the Senate race against Democrat Joe Sestak, 45 percent…

September 28, 2010 at 3:13 pm | Comments (10)

Two candidates, one debate, one fundraiser, one Rendell remark

Pat Toomey held court with Ted Koppel live on PCN, opponent nowhere in sight. Joe Sestak raised money with John Kerry. And Gov. Ed Rendell, always unfiltered, found time to offer the other side a talking point.

The ongoing debate in Pennsylvania’s competitive Senate race was nothing if not diffused across the state Monday, with the two candidates missing a chance for a first meeting but the back-and-forth continuing nonetheless.

Hours before the Pennsylvania Chamber…

September 28, 2010 at 7:00 am | Comments (1)

Longtime Dem mayor endorses Toomey

A longtime Democratic mayor of Harrisburg endorsed Republican Pat Toomey for Senate Monday, as the GOP nominee sought to build cross-partisan credentials of his own.

Stephen Reed, who led Pennsylvania’s capital city for more than 25 years until earlier this year, backed Toomey during an event in Harrisburg. It came as Democratic opponent Joe Sestak has racked up endorsements from moderates like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Senator Chuck Hagel. Reed, for his…

September 27, 2010 at 3:23 pm | Comments (5)

Another poll shows GOPers ahead in statewide races

Republicans continue to hold healthy leads in both of Pennsylvania’s competitive statewide races, according to a new poll.

The Muhlenberg College survey released this weekend found Republican Tom Corbett edging Democrat Dan Onorato by nine points in the race for governor, 46 percent to 37 percent, with 17 percent of likely voters still undecided. Republican Pat Toomey holds a smaller, seven-point advantage against Democrat Joe Sestak in the Senate race, 46 percent to 39 percent,…

September 27, 2010 at 11:21 am | Comments (1)