LEFTOVERS: More Rangel money, Rendell on Corbett’s head, the Dem holdouts on health care

A busy weekend in western Pennsylvania sure makes it hard keep up.

Charles Rangel may have resigned his House Ways & Means chairmanship, but that doesn’t mean Democrats are free of Republican attacks about him. Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) appears to be the favored target as of late, because unlike many other Democrats, she hasn’t given back or donated campaign contribution from Rangel or his affiliated political action committees. One of her potential GOP opponents,…

March 7, 2010 at 11:56 pm | Comments (1)

Off-the-cuff with Jonathan Saidel

WEST CHESTER—Leave it Jonathan Saidel to keep things lighthearted.

The former Philadelphia City Controller has continued to traverse the state in recent days to court the endorsements of local Democratic parties, even as he increasingly looks like a lock to win the primary. After winning the support of the Chester County Democratic Committee here Saturday—on a voice vote as the only candidate nominated for consideration—Saidel treated local committee members to the kind of off-the-cuff riffing…

February 20, 2010 at 6:01 pm | Comments (5)

12th District special election set for primary day

In the 12th Congressional District, there will be two elections on May 18—the regular primary, and a special election to fill the rest of the late Congressman John Murtha’s term in Washington.

As expected, Gov. Ed Rendell announced Wednesday that the special election would be held the same day as the primary to save money. His office said scheduling it on a different day would cost taxpayers more than $680,000.

“At a time when all…

February 17, 2010 at 4:40 pm | Comments (0)

Rendell rule-change will make delivering for Specter more difficult

LANCASTER—When state Democratic Party insiders gather here this weekend to consider endorsing statewide candidates, the most interesting question will be whether or not Senator Arlen Specter can win the formal backing of his new party. Gov. Ed Rendell will surely be pushing for his longtime friend.

But about eight years ago, Rendell made the task he and Specter now face harder to achieve. After Bob Casey beat him out for the party’s gubernatorial endorsement in…

February 5, 2010 at 3:30 pm | Comments (12)

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)

Pols oppose having 9/11 trial in Pa.

Republicans and Democrats alike are coming out against a reported proposal to try the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the Keystone State.

With reports surfacing that

January 30, 2010 at 4:52 pm | Comments (0)

Baby needs new shoes—and road construction, and bridge repairs, and…

With the passage of legislation by the state House and Senate to allow table games in the Commonwealth’s casinos, and Gov. Ed Rendell’s assurance that he will sign it into law, it looks like Pennsylvanians may be able to spend their Fourth of July weekend playing blackjack, craps, roulette and poker without having to trek all the way to Atlantic City (what, you’re going to try and tell me you go to AC for the…

January 7, 2010 at 9:30 am | Comments (0)

Rendell: ‘There’s no reason to panic’

As Democrats confront a wave of retirements and candidate exits, Gov. Ed Rendell has some words of advice for his party.

In an interview with The New York Times, Rendell, a former head of the Democratic National Committee, acknowledged the obstacles ahead, but advised against panic.

We should be concerned, and we should develop our plans and our policies and the programs we are going to push for with an eye to 2010,”

January 7, 2010 at 8:13 am | Comments (6)

More thoughts on that 8-year cycle

Very interesting

January 4, 2010 at 9:30 am | Comments (0)

The top 5 stories that set the stage for 2010

If 2010 is to be an unpredictable political thunderstorm, 2009 was when the clouds gathered into position. There were many developments that set the stage, but here’s our take at the most important ones.

5. Tom Corbett’s free campaign. With the state Attorney General’s Harrisburg corruption probe now well into its third year and with no end in sight, it’s increasingly clear what kind of political capital the investigation affords the GOP’s gubernatorial front-runner. It’s…

January 3, 2010 at 10:15 pm | Comments (8)