Pittsburgh ward endorses Sestak, Hoeffel

The largest organization of Democrats in Pittsburgh went decidedly anti-establishment with its statewide endorsements Sunday.

The 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club voted to back Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) in his insurgent bid against incumbent Arlen Specter. And the group, representing a ward with more than 18,000 Democrats, endorsed Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel for governor.

“For more than four decades, the club’s endorsement has helped candidates to receive a larger number of votes than they…

April 19, 2010 at 9:37 am | Comments (12)

Hoeffel calls for county treasurer to step down

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel on Thursday called for the resignation of County Treasurer Tom Ellis, after Ellis’ former fiancee lodged allegations of harassment against him.

The Inquirer

April 16, 2010 at 2:10 pm | Comments (5)

Wagner says he’ll air TV ads, but how much can he afford?

PITTSBURGH—For months, Auditor General Jack Wagner has said he’ll have enough money to be competitive in the Democratic primary for governor. But seven weeks before the big day, his campaign had less than $700,000 in the bank, an amount that makes a sustained statewide advertising blitz almost impossible.

Now, five weeks before primary day, Wagner says a plan is in place to run TV ads across Pennsylvania, but he’s not saying how much he expects…

April 15, 2010 at 7:30 pm | Comments (15)

GOP poll shows Onorato building a lead

A recent statewide advertising blitz by Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato is apparently beginning to work, with the gubernatorial hopeful opening up a lead over his Democratic primary rivals, according to a new poll.

The survey, released Wednesday by the GOP firm Susquehanna Polling & Research, found Onorato garnering 32 percent of the vote, by far his best showing of the race. He is followed by Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel with 13 percent, Auditor…

April 14, 2010 at 3:28 pm | Comments (4)

Big labor doesn’t endorse in race for governor; backs Saidel

Pennsylvania’s organized labor community can’t come to a consensus in the four-way Democratic primary for governor.

The state AFL-CIO, the state’s largest umbrella union organization, overwhelmingly endorsed former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel for Lieutenant during a meeting of its executive committee over the weekend in Pittsburgh. But no top-ticket candidate was able to garner the two-thirds vote needed for a formal endorsement.

An AFL-CIO official couldn’t be reached for comment. But a labor insider…

April 13, 2010 at 10:14 am | Comments (9)

Planned Parenthood and LGBT group back Hoeffel for governor

From the moment that Democrat Joe Hoeffel got into the race for governor, there’s been little question that his social policies are the most friendly toward abortion rights advocates and gay rights advocates. This week Hoeffel was rewarded for those stances, with significant endorsements from one of the state’s most prominent LGBT groups and from the state’s Planned Parenthood political action committee.

Hoeffel, the Montgomery County commissioner and former congressman, was endorsed Wednesday night by…

April 8, 2010 at 5:30 pm | Comments (5)

Corbett leads Dem contenders by double digits

Attorney General Tom Corbett continues to enjoy double-digit advantages over his potential Democratic rivals for governor, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday echoed a large body of public polling which has shown Corbett in front going into the November general election, regardless of who his opponent is. In the poll, Corbett tops Dan Onorato 45 percent to 33 percent. He would beat Jack Wagner 48 percent to 29 percent, and…

April 8, 2010 at 1:20 pm | Comments (5)

Onorato’s support grows slightly in still-wide-open race

Democrat Dan Onorato is sporting deeper support than he or any of his primary rivals have enjoyed thus far, but almost half of likely Democratic voters are still undecided, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday morning painted a picture of race that, while still largely undefined, is slowly but surely coming into focus. The poll showed Onorato leading the four-way primary with 20 percent of the vote, compared to 15…

April 7, 2010 at 8:46 am | Comments (6)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE ROUNDUP: Onorato, Corbett still in the lead (Updated)

Deadline day for gubernatorial candidates to submit the first of two pre-primary campaign finance reports came and went without much surprise.

We’re still sorting through the documents we have and awaiting release of other reports, but here’s a basic rundown of where things stand.

Democrat Dan Onorato and Republican Tom Corbett continue to hold commanding fundraising leads over their respective primary rivals. Numbers for both candidates had emerged in the days leading up to the…

April 6, 2010 at 7:18 pm | Comments (1)

Hoeffel has $101K on hand

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Joe Hoeffel raised slightly more campaign cash in the first three months of 2010 than he did in the closing months of 2009, but relatively heavy spending left him with just $101,000 in the bank with primary day looming, according to campaign finance data.

Hoeffel, the Montgomery County Commissioner, raised more than $239,000 during the period, according to the data set to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State on Tuesday.…

April 6, 2010 at 1:41 pm | Comments (7)