May 29: Courting Black Voters

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What’s Happening Today. President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris will be in Philadelphia this afternoon for a joint rally that will include Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Mayor Cherelle Parker.

Pennsylvania. The Ultimate Swing State. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Biden, Harris To Launch Black Voter Outreach Effort Amid Signs Of Diminished Support

“President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are stepping up their reelection pitch to Black voters, a key part of their 2020 winning coalition that has shown signs of fraying.

They’ll launch a new Black voter outreach effort during a visit to the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Wednesday. The two will stop at Girard College, an independent boarding school in Philadelphia with a predominantly Black student body, and visit a small business to speak to members of the Black Chamber of Commerce.

The Philadelphia stops are the start of what the campaign is describing as an eight-figure, summerlong effort to engage Black student organizations, community groups and faith centers.” (AP)

Related

What Presidential Polling Numbers Tell Us At The Memorial Day Post. “In terms of a horse race, we have just rounded the first turn. The race for the White House still has a long five months to go and the polling numbers that seem to come out every day can be confusing and, at some point, mind-numbing.” (PoliticsPA)

John Fetterman’s Fight With The Left Is No Longer Just About Israel. “Progressives have argued that Fetterman abandoned the left because of his staunch support of Israel, but the senator insisted in an interview earlier this year that he was never a progressive in the first place.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Dave McCormick To Attend Event with Moms for Liberty and Betsy DeVos. “Dave McCormick is planning on speaking at a “fireside chat” with members of Moms for Liberty and former US Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in Nazareth on Wednesday.” (The Keystone)

State

2. Attorney General Candidates Rebuild Campaign Coffers After Pricey Primaries

“The Democratic and Republican candidates competing to be Pennsylvania’s next attorney general first had to survive contested primaries that drained their campaign coffers.

With more than five months until the November election, they’re rebuilding those cash reserves, thanks to very different backers.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Lawsuit Calls For End of Disqualification for Date Errors on Mail Ballots. “A statewide coalition of nonpartisan community organizations sued Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt and election officials in Philadelphia and Allegheny County on Tuesday, demanding an end to the disqualification of mail-in ballots for inconsequential date errors.” (PoliticsPA)

6 State Legislatures Where Partisan Balance Is On The Line In November. “Greater attention is turning toward state legislatures as they become the focal point for debates over abortion access, immigration, redistricting and gun control. Democrats and Republicans alike see opportunities to shift the balance of partisan control in one or both chambers among a handful of state legislatures this fall, including Pennsylvania.” (The Hill)

PA State House Candidate’s Parenting Causes Uproar After Report Of Husband Slapping Toddler. “The parenting style of a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania Legislature and her husband has touched off a social media storm after he was described as striking their toddler in a profile published in a British newspaper over the weekend.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Democrats Add Five Candidates To Red To Blue Program

“The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has named five candidates vying to flip Republican-held seats or hold onto an open seat the party wants to protect to a program that provides extra help on the campaign trail.”

Two candidates are from Pennsylvania: Ashley Ehasz in PA-01 and Janelle Stelson in PA-10. (Roll Call)

• DCCC Names Ashley Ehasz ‘Top-Tier Candidate’ Congressional Race Against Brian Fitzpatrick. (Bucks County Courier Times)
• Janelle Stelson Selected For National Dems ‘Red-to-Blue’ List. (PennLive)

Related

‘Status Quo’ Protects 48th In The Nation Business Tax Rule. “Just two states in the country prevent businesses from carrying over most of their net operating losses into the new year: New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Twenty-five states put no percentage cap on the allowable amount, while an additional 19 match the federal limit. In Pennsylvania, the rate is set at 40%.” (The Center Square)

Tired of Losing to ‘Frigging Ohio,’ PA Lawmakers Propose Pro-Business Tax Policy. “Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro routinely complains he’s “sick and tired” of Pennsylvania losing out to “frigging Ohio” on economic development. A bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers, including Rep. Paul Friel (D-Pottstown), hope a proposed tax deduction for startup companies will jumpstart investment. It targets net operating losses (NOL) when deductions exceed taxpayer income within a tax period.” (DV Journal)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Harrisburg Should Prioritize Our Needs, Not Billionaires, With Pennsylvania’s Surplus. (Steve Paul)
• Harrisburg Democrats Should Push Past Partisanship And Approve Lifeline Scholarships. (David Hardy)
• Yes, Solar Can Work In Cloudy Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Antisemitism Is An Issue Beyond College Campuses. (Beth Ann Rosica)
• PA DEP Is Understaffed And Can’t Fulfill Mission To Protect Our Health And Environment. (Rep. Greg Vitali)
• Should Pennsylvania Lawmakers Vote Remotely? (Tribune-Review)

1 Sunset Thing

5. Manhattanhenge

“Twice per year, New Yorkers and visitors are treated to a phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge, when the setting sun aligns with the Manhattan street grid and sinks below the horizon framed in a canyon of skyscrapers.

The event is a favorite of photographers and often brings people out onto sidewalks on spring and summer evenings to watch this unique sunset.

The first Manhattanhenge of the year happened Tuesday at 8:13 p.m., with a slight variation happening again Wednesday at 8:12 p.m. It will occur again on July 12 and 13.” (AP)

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