From the Blogs

LEFTOVERS: Toomey hits Sestak on 9/11 trials, Aichele touts Bulletin article, another PA-3 hopeful

by Dan Hirschhorn

The debate over holding civilian trials for suspects in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks continued to eat up political oxygen Monday. Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey criticized Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) for apparently signaling that he’d be open to pToomey was quick to pounce, pointing out a slew of elected Democrats who have come out against the idea, including Senator Bob Casey, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Congressman Jason Altmire (D-4)./p
p“I join leading Pennsylvania Republicans and Democrats alike in opposing trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a civilian court in Pennsylvania,” Toomey said in a statement. “Moving the trial to Pennsylvania will impose huge security risks and costs on our state, in addition to the national security risks posed by trying an enemy combatant in a civilian court where we may be forced to disclose important intelligence information.”/p
pSestak’s primary opponent, Senator Arlen Specter, has also a href="http://kdka.com/politics/arlen.specter.911.2.1462486.html" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://kdka.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fkdka.com%2Fpolitics%2Farlen.specter.911.2.1462486.html','come+out+against+holding+the+trails+in+Pennsylvania')" target="_blank">come out against holding the trails in Pennsylvania. And

February 1, 2010 at 11:55 pm | Comments (1)

Fitzpatrick challenges Murphy on campaign spending

Republican Mike Fitzpatrick on Monday challenged Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) to limit himself to spending $1 million in his quest for a third term this year, saying that such a cap would “show respect to the residents of the 8th District who are, in many cases, struggling just to make ends meet.”

The call for all 8th District candidates to limit their electoral seems unlikely to go anywhere;

February 1, 2010 at 11:47 pm | Comments (8)

Onorato tries to tamp down Lt. Gov. speculation

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato sought Monday quiet speculation that his political allies are looking to pair him on a gubernatorial ticket with Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, insisting that “the only race I have been focused on is my own campaign for governor—not who is running for Lieutenant Governor.”

Onorato was apparently responding to reports

February 1, 2010 at 7:45 pm | Comments (7)

As chatter of an Onorato-Doherty ticket builds, a Saidel ally is ready to fight

At first, it seemed like nothing more than innocent speculation. A couple stories and columns mentioned that Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty could join Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato on a Democratic ticket for governor. Those pieces didn’t mention former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel, who had been preparing a campaign for Lieutenant Governor for well over a year. And Marty Marks, a spokesman and strategist for Saidel, didn’t like that.

So he called up seemingly…

February 1, 2010 at 7:40 pm | Comments (29)

Hoeffel wants Dems to forgo endorsement

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel said Monday that the state Democratic Party should refrain from endorsing a candidate for governor when its leaders meet this weekend in Lancaster, arguing that primary voters should make “the ultimate decision.”

It remains unclear if any candidate will muster the challenging two-thirds vote needed to win an endorsement from the Democratic State Committee. But with much of the establishment party support split between Auditor General Jack Wagner and Allegheny…

February 1, 2010 at 7:36 pm | Comments (4)

Barletta endorses Corbett for governor

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta endorsed Attorney General Tom Corbett for governor on Monday, in what seemed to be a political no-brainer for the Republican congressional candidate.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I endorse my friend and our Attorney General Tom Corbett for Governor,” Barletta said in a statement. “I pledge my support to his effort and look forward to being on the ticket with him this year.”

There was so little political risk in…

February 1, 2010 at 7:22 pm | Comments (2)

More labor endorsements for Specter

Eight western Pennsylvania labor unions endorsed Senator Arlen Specter Monday during a rally at the Laborers District Council Hall in Pittsburgh, giving the longtime incumbent still more support ahead of the May primary.

“The Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania is proud to endorse Senator Specter for re-election,” union president Philip Ameris said in a statement. “He has always been a good friend of labor and was instrumental in passing the stimulus bill, which brought…

February 1, 2010 at 7:14 pm | Comments (7)

Trivedi nabs two more Pike supporters; rolls out finance committee

Two more Democratic insiders switched teams in the 6th Congressional District primary Monday, when Manan Trivedi’s campaign announced endorsements from Reading Mayor Tom McMahon and Berks County Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt. The campaign also unveiled a finance committee that included a big-name party fundraiser.

Both McMahon and Barnhardt had previously backed former Inquirer editorial writer Doug Pike when he was the only declared candidates in the race. But their decision to switch confirmed

February 1, 2010 at 3:08 pm | Comments (3)

Cohen had $83K; urges support of Gerlach

Former state Revenue Secretary finished 2009 with about $83,000 in campaign cash for his 6th Congressional District race, including $9,000 he loaned to his own campaign, according to

February 1, 2010 at 2:52 pm | Comments (4)

Cambria Dems endorse Wagner

Cambria County Democratic Party leaders endorsed Auditor General Jack Wagner for governor Monday, adding to Wagner’s growing base of local party support.

“He will have my vote at the Democratic State Committee meeting in February, and I will encourage others to vote for him during the endorsement process,” said local party chair Helen Whiteford said in a campaign statement.

Added county party treasurer Barb Kline: “I’ve known Jack as a public servant for years, and…

February 1, 2010 at 2:31 pm | Comments (0)