March 15th: A Numbers Game

Hello Friday. The Ides of March. St. Patrick’s Day. Have a great weekend.

PA Weather


Oakmont | Cloudy, 59


Palmyra | Scattered Showers, 62


Quicktown | Cloudy 56

PA Sports


Sixers (36-30) | Milwaukee 105-114 | Sat vs. Charlotte


Flyers (34-25-8) | Toronto 2-6 | Sat vs. Boston


Penguins (29-28-8) | San Jose 6-3 | Sat vs. NY Rangers | Sun vs. Detroit

What We’re Hearing
The Biden campaign has resumed spending in key states, with $1.9M in TV ads targeting Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. On the other side, MAGA Inc. has $222K in future reservations in Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. MAGA Inc. has only spent on radio in these states.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Dave Madsen (Sun.)

Pennsylvania Political Headlines In Your Inbox Daily
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Top Story

1. Emerson: Trump 47, Biden 43; Casey 45, McCormick 41

“The latest Pennsylvania poll from Emerson College gives former President Donald Trump a slim lead over President Joe Biden in the chase for the White House.

In a survey of 1,000 registered Pennsylvania voters, Trump garnered 47 percent support, while Biden came in with 43 percent. Ten percent of the respondents indicated that they were undecided. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

U.S. Senate Candidate Dave McCormick Reinforces Support For In-Vitro Fertilization In Op-Ed. “In a new opinion piece, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick reiterated his backing for in-vitro fertilization services following an Alabama court ruling, saying that he would “always support access to IVF.”” (PennLive)

Responding to McCormick Attack, Casey Says He’s A ‘Very Strong Supporter Of Israel’. “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick has continually criticized his Democratic opponent, Sen. Bob Casey, claiming he’s weak on his support for Israel, particularly after the October surprise attack by Hamas.” (PennLive)

Rep. Summer Lee’s Campaign Removes Casey Endorsement From Website. “A subtle change to Rep. Summer Lee’s (D-PA) campaign site in recent days suggests a possible tension with one of her top supporters, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), as the two incumbents gear up for tough reelections.” (Jewish Insider)

PA-12: Centrist Group Targets Summer Lee in TV Ad. “The road continues to be bumpy for Rep. Summer Lee (D-12). The progressive Pittsburgh-area representative is now the target of a television ad by a political action committee, accusing her of having an “extreme socialist agenda.”” (PoliticsPA)

Former Federal Judge: Supreme Court ‘Dangerously Betrayed’ Democracy With Trump Disqualification Decision. “Retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig issued a searing rebuke of the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision that Colorado could not disqualify former President Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection ban, preserving his ability to seek a second term.” (The Hill)

State

2. GOP Attorney General Candidates Clash Over Krasner, Criminal Justice Reform

“The Republican candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general squared off in Harrisburg on Thursday during a televised debate that highlighted some sharp differences between the two hopefuls.

Dave Sunday, the York County district attorney, emphasized that he was the candidate with more criminal courtroom experience. He also touted the state Republican Party’s endorsement of his candidacy, as well as what he called a long record of working with others.

Meanwhile, Craig Williams, a state representative from just outside Philadelphia, attacked Sunday for not securing a conviction in a specific murder case. And he also took shots at elected Democrats, especially Gov. Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.” (WESA)

Related

Five Takeaways From The GOP Attorney General Debate. “The two Republican candidates for Pennsylvania Attorney General, Dave Sunday and Craig Williams, took to the stage for their first televised debate of 2024.” (abc27)

Reader Poll: The TikTok “Ban.” What Do You Think? “The biggest controversy today is the U.S. House of Representatives voting to shut down TikTok in the country unless owner ByteDance divests from the popular app. What do you think? We’d like to know.” (PoliticsPA)

Building Trades Say Carbon Tax Plan ‘Sets The Thanksgiving Table’. “Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new carbon tax plan won over some unlikely allies – Pennsylvania’s building and construction trades.” (The Center Square)

“What Does AG Stand For? Aspiring Governor.” “Checking in with former Governor Tom Corbett, who spent 10 years as attorney general, on the one question he would ask this year’s AG candidates at our March 25 forum.” (Philadelphia Citizen)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Mayor Parker’s $246 Million Plan To Clean Up ‘Filthadelphia’

“Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker ran on making the city “cleaner and greener” — and her inaugural budget includes $246 million investment over five years in initiatives aimed at delivering that promise.

Parker outlined a complex patchwork of initiatives. These include an $11 million pilot for twice weekly trash pickup in certain neighborhoods, 1,500 more “Big Belly” style trash cans, new crews for each Council district to tackle illegal dumping, a plan to seal 900 vacant buildings, and a promise to haul away 10,000 abandoned cars.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Budget Address Made History. Here’s What Clout Saw. (Inquirer)
• More Police, Street Cleaning, “Triage Facilities”: Takeaways From Mayor Parker’s First City Budget Proposal. (Billy Penn)

Related

Democrats Attack the GOP on Social Security and Eye Each Other Over a Lee-Patel Endorsement. “Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump amassed enough delegates to be their parties’ presidential nominees this week. But the real sign the campaign is underway? Democrats are attacking the GOP on Social Security and Medicare.” (WESA Politics)

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato Faces Lawsuit Over Ballot Drop-Off Locations. “County Councilman Sam DeMarco filed a lawsuit against County Executive Sara Innamorato on Thursday morning to stop the use of ballot drop-off locations for the upcoming primary election.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Dispute Between Commissioners, Controller In PA County Continues Despite Court Ruling. “Lycoming County commissioners claim Controller Krista B. Rogers is not entitled to the $119,400 she has requested in legal fees in her successful battle to regain control of certain county fiscal functions. (PennLive)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Voters Don’t Have A Clue About How Much Worse Trump’s Second Term Would Be. (Will Bunch)
• Fear and Loathing In An Election Year. (Gene Collier)
• Pennsylvania’s Home Care Workers Deserve Livable Wages And Agency Accountability. (Joy Darden)
• Why Are Lawmakers Trying to Ban TikTok Instead of Doing What Voters Actually Want? (Julia Angwin)
• TikTok, Hypocrisy And Easy Answers. (Lori Falce)
• A Tough And Fair Border Deal Killed By Republicans. (Rep. Chris Deluzio)
• Shapiro’s Proposed Carbon Tax Stifles PA Energy Potential. (Sen. Kim Ward)
• Primary Election Postscript —Whither The United States? (Jeff Hurvitz)
• How Gov. Shapiro’s Higher Ed Plan ‘Falls Short’ For State’s Private Colleges, Universities. (Kathleen Getz)

1 Thing

5. Bobbleheads Stolen, Postponing Giveaway at Penguins Game

“Penguins fans out west should be on the lookout for about 18,000 bobbleheads whose distinguishing features include glorious glutes and a dark brown mullet.

The Penguins announced Thursday that they are the victims of cargo theft. The culprits seized the shipment of Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads that were to be given to all fans who attended Thursday’s home game against the San Jose Sharks.

No, it’s not April 1. We double-checked.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

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