May 30: The Ad Blitz in PA

Fore. It’s the opening round of the U.S. Women’s Open Golf championship today in our backyard.

PA Weather


Tyrone | Sunny, 68


Lancaster | Sunny, 72


Bath | Sunny, 70

PA Sports


Phillies (39-18) | San Francisco 6-1 | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis


Pirates (26-30) | Detroit 0-8, 10-2 | Fri-Sun vs. Toronto


Union (4-7-4) | Toronto 0-0 | Sat vs. Montreal


U.S. Women’s Open | Thu-Sun in Lancaster

What We’re Hearing. The largest contributions to the pro-McCormick Keystone Renewal super PAC have been $10 million from Ken Griffin, the chief executive of Citadel; $2 million from Paul Singer, the president of Elliott Management; and $1 million from Jeff Yass, a founder of Susquehanna International Group.

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Top Story

1. ‘Are You With Me?’ Biden and Harris Launch Black Voter Outreach and Warn of a Second Trump Term

“President Joe Biden renewed his election-year pitch to Black voters on Wednesday, lashing out at Donald Trump’s “MAGA lies” and saying the winner of this year’s White House race will make crucial decisions, including on nominees for the Supreme Court, that could affect the country for decades.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, in a joint appearance at a Philadelphia boarding school, thanked Black voters in Pennsylvania and beyond for being the lynchpin to their 2020 victory and they made the case that their agenda has had an enormous impact on improving lives for Black voters.” (AP)

Related

Biden Is Investing Heavily In Pennsylvania — With Little To Show For It. “The campaign has opened two dozen field offices, and the president and his allies have poured tens of millions into the state, outspending former President Donald Trump and his backers there more than 4 to 1. And on Wednesday, speaking at a majority Black school in the state’s largest city, Biden and Harris used a rare dual campaign appearance to launch an organizing effort to win over Black voters, a critical constituency. If it’s registering, there’s little sign of it yet.” (Politico)

• President Joe Biden Has Lost Support From Black Voters. He Came To Philly With An Appeal For Their Trust. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pro-McCormick Super PAC Plans $30 Million Ad Blitz in Pennsylvania. “The main super PAC supporting David McCormick, the Republican running for Senate in Pennsylvania, is reserving $30 million worth of television ads in the state, a major escalation in the campaign to unseat Senator Bob Casey, the Democratic incumbent.” (New York Times)

U.S. Senate Candidate McCormick Visits Nazareth With ex-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. “McCormick, who is challenging three-term U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., spoke about his views on everything education, including Title IX changes, school choice options and job opportunities in the trades.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

RFK’s Voters Know They’re Not Electing The Next President. They’re With Him Anyway. “Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s presidential campaign is the political equivalent of a Rorschach test: it’s open to interpretation, it aims to be a lot of different things to a lot of different people and its significance and meaning are squarely in the eyes of the beholder.” (WQLN)

RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Misinformation Campaign Started After He Ignored a Philly Doctor. “After speaking with CHOP pediatrician Paul Offit, “he became a bona fide source of disinformation — falsely saying vaccines cause autism — ever since.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

2. “You’ve Got Ad Time in Pennsylvania”

“Just days after Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled a new tourism slogan for the Keystone State, we have another to offer the administration to consider.

“America Starts Its Political Advertising Here.”

Or, “You’ve Got Ad Time in Pennsylvania.”

One more … “Pennsylvania Political Ads Last a Lifetime.”” (PoliticsPA)

Related

The PA GOP Thinks It Can Take Back The State House. The Seats They Think Are Winnable. “Conservative leverage in Harrisburg was chopped in half after the 2022 midterms when Republicans lost the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Under the leadership of Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, the lower chamber’s agenda has swung decidedly leftward. But Democrats’ slimmest of majorities in the House — a single vote — could be erased for the second half of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s term if the GOP manages any flips in the Nov. 7 election.” (Erie Times-News)

Luzerne County and Cabell File Briefs In Ballot Appeal Case In Commonwealth Court. “Luzerne County and state Rep. Mike Cabell have filed legal briefs in state Commonwealth Court regarding Cabell’s appeal of a county court ruling about two disputed ballots in the April 23 Republican primary for the 117th state House District.” (Citizens Voice)

Welcome to Pennsylvania, ‘Ground Zero’ of Presidential Politics. “Pennsylvania is the most important state in American politics. If you don’t believe it, check President Joe Biden’s frequent-flyer miles.” (DV Journal)

A New Look for PA.gov Websites. “If you logged into the PA.gov URL today, you may have noticed a new look.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA’s Rule On Dating Mail Ballots Faces New Challenge In State Court

“Voting rights groups are trying again to invalidate Pennsylvania’s requirement that mail voters write a date on their ballot return envelope, following a recent defeat in federal court.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court on Tuesday against Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, this time arguing that the election code’s requirement that voters write the date on their ballot envelopes violates the state constitution’s clause on free and equal elections.” (Votebeat Pennsylvania)

Related

Introducing The Candidate Spotlight Series. “With so many candidates on the ballot across the Commonwealth, Broad + Liberty will run a series of interviews over the summer to highlight Pennsylvania State Representative and Senate candidates running in the general election in November. The series is open to any candidate appearing on the ballot regardless of political affiliation. ” (Broad + Liberty)

Leveling The Playing Field: Why Some Want PIAA to Separate Private And Public Schools In Playoffs. “The law is one sentence long: “Private schools shall be permitted, if otherwise qualified, to be members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.”” (Penn Capital-Star)

Bedford County Republicans Await Decision On Ex-DA’s Election As County GOP Chair; Higgins Sues County Board. “The decision whether former Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins can be certified as chairman of the Bedford County Republican Committee is now in the hands of the state GOP – and potentially the Bedford County courts.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Researchers Make Massive Lithium Discovery in Pennsylvania. “Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a large amount of lithium located in Pennsylvania, saying it could eventually supply more than a third of America’s needs for the mineral.” (The Hill)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• It’s Not The Norm, But PA’s Top Politicians Are Having A Moment. (John Baer)
• How the Supreme Court Could Use the Pardon Power to Create an Imperial Presidency. (Kimberly Wehle)
• The American Dream Is Out Of Reach For Many Pennsylvanians. (Athan Koutsiouroumbas)
• A Taxpayer Centric Budget Negotiation. (Emily Greene)

1 Golf Thing

5. U.S. Women’s Open Comes to Lancaster

“This is an amazing time for women’s sports in the United States. And starting Thursday, Lancaster County once again will be at the very center of the golf world.

It’s an incredible honor, one that was earned by the Lancaster Country Club staff and management, local and state government officials, local volunteers and the tens of thousands of mostly local spectators who made up the galleries cheering on the golfers in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2015.

That tournament — attended by a record 135,000 people — garnered stellar reviews from both spectators and players.” (LNP)

• On the big stage: PA’s Rohanna set to play in her fourth U.S. Women’s Open. (Washington Observer-Reporter)

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