Joe the Plumber endorses Ryan in the 17th

Republican Frank Ryan got a celebrity boost in his bid to take on Congressman Tim Holden (D-17) Thursday, from none other than the famous “Joe the Plumber.”

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, who improbably emerged as a conservative icon after John McCain mentioned him repeatedly during a 2008 presidential debate, said Ryan, a retired Marine Colonel, has “outstanding qualifications for public office.”

“I am looking nationwide for candidates who reflect conservative values and whose personal record of…

March 4, 2010 at 8:33 pm | Comments (11)

Critz says he’s raised $100K

Democrat Mark Critz said Thursday that his campaign to replace the late John Murtha in the 12th Congressional District has already raised more than $100,000 in campaign cash.

If confirmed when campaign finance reports are published later this year, the early fundraising haul would amount to an impressive start for the man hoping to follow his old boss. Critz worked for Murtha for over a decade, most recently as his district director. He got into…

March 4, 2010 at 8:07 pm | Comments (5)

With GOP pressuring Dems, Carney donating Rangel cash

Congressman Chris Carney (D-10) is donating money his campaign has received from former House Ways & Means Chairman Charlie Rangel, an action that comes a day after Rangel

March 4, 2010 at 5:25 pm | Comments (2)

Meehan’s early fundraising haul was fueled by governor’s race

After former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan

March 4, 2010 at 5:20 pm | Comments (6)

Opinion

Just say no to the ‘Murtha’ shipyard

by Chris Freind

Reports have surfaced that Pennsylvania Democrats are in favor of

March 4, 2010 at 5:18 pm | Comments (18)

More Dem endorsements in the 6th

A week before before Montgomery County Democratic insiders meet to make their endorsements, Reading physician Manan Trivedi sought to demonstrate increasing support in the area.

Trivedi, a candidate in the 6th Congressional District, announced endorsements from four Lower Merion Township Commissioners, including Bruce Reed, the body’s president.

“Manan Trivedi brings an unique combination of intelligence, education and experience to this Congressional race,” Reed said in a campaign statement. “Coupled with his familiarity and understanding of…

March 4, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Comments (2)

Lt. Gov. update: Pepper’s still in, who’s Billy McCue?

After the Republican State Committee meeting last month, multiple news reports said that Jean Craige Pepper had withdrawn from the race for Lieutenant Governor.

But it looks like that was just a misunderstanding, and Pepper says she’s in the race to stay. The confusion, Pepper said, came after she withdrew her name from consideration for the party’s endorsement. Bucks County Commissioner Jim Cawley won that endorsement, but several Republicans are still running.

“I never said…

March 4, 2010 at 3:43 pm | Comments (3)

Hafer swipes at Critz, selection process

Democrat Barbara Hafer has launched an all-out offensive on her main opponent for a special election nomination, seeking to discredit both Mark Critz and the process that party insiders say is likely to give him a leg-up for the nomination to finish the late John Murtha’s term in the 12th District.

Hafer, a former state treasurer and auditor general, made the attacks Wednesday, in what was effectively the first volley of the Democratic contest. In…

March 4, 2010 at 10:40 am | Comments (7)

Altmire no conservative, party leaders say

What does it mean that Congressman Jason Altmire (D-4) is labeling himself as right-of-center in the wake of a

March 4, 2010 at 9:53 am | Comments (7)

Opinion

Restoring Glass-Steagall

by E. Teresa Touey

We need to restore the Glass-Steagall Act now. Enacted during the Great Depression, it separated commercial banking from investment banking, providing our economy with stable economic growth for nearly 70 years. Large amounts of federal dollars have since been spent to stabilize a wrecked economy, including the TARP money approved by the Congress over the last three months of the Bush administration in 2008 and the economic stimulus package enacted by President Obama.The rationale sold…

March 3, 2010 at 3:09 pm | Comments (4)