Wake-Up Call: Wednesday, August 13, 2008

With the PolitickerPA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Pennsylvania's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerPA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Pennslyvania's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Pindell Report: Pa. has more competitive congressional races than any other state

With six U.S. House races in play this fall, Pennsylvania has the largest number of competitive congressional races than any other state in the country, a new Politicker.com report shows.

The Pindell Report, which launched today, aims to provide the country's most dynamic and richly reported ranking and analysis of U.S. Senate, U.S. House and gubernatorial races, plus presidential swing states. (PolitickerPA.com, Staff)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/editorpa/1178/pindell-report-pa-has-more-com...

Ward to make decision Wednesday, 'leaning very strongly' toward accepting

Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward told PolitickerPA.com Tuesday evening that she is "leaning very strongly" toward seeking the Republican nomination in the state 39th Senatorial District, a decision that would all but guarantee she would replace state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County) on the ballot there. (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/1192/ward-make-decision-wednesday...

Pa. senator’s appointment criticized

Three consumer watchdog groups have questioned state Sen. Robert Mellow’s appointment to the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Board of Directors. (Times Leader, Andrew Seder)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Pa__senator_rsquo_s_appointment_criticiz...

Kanjorski-Barletta called tossup

Another Washington, D.C., non-partisan political group has assessed the two congressional races in Northeastern Pennsylvania and finds the 11th District race a tossup and the 10th race leaning Republican. (Times Leader, Bill O'Boyle)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Kanjorski-Barletta_called_tossup_08-13-2...

Barletta’s TV ads hit airwaves today

HAZLETON – U.S. Congressional candidate Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will air his first television campaign ad today.Barletta, a Republican, is running against 12-term incumbent Democrat Paul E. Kanjorski in the 11th Congressional District. Kanjorski and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have been airing television ads for weeks. (Times Leader, Staff)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Barletta_rsquo_s_TV_ads_hit_airwaves_tod...

Poll: Obama leads in Pa., but not by much

BUOYED by a widespread disdain for President Bush and concern about the economy, Democrat Barack Obama holds a lead over Republican John McCain in the latest Daily News/Franklin & Marshall Poll. (Philly Daily News, Dave Davies)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080813_Poll__Obama_leads_in_Pa__...

New Pa. laws lend muscle to mortgage regulators

As mounting foreclosures gobble up more area homes, state Rep. W. Curtis Thomas and the Sheriff's Office yesterday shed light on an initiative that cracks down on shady mortgage lenders. (Philly Daily News, Damon Williams)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080813_New_Pa__laws_lend_muscle_...

Fumo's list of potential witnesses a VIP Who's Who

A list of potential witnesses for state Sen. Vince Fumo filed in federal district court yesterday reads like an insiders' guide to clout in Philadelphia over the past generation. (Philly Daily News, Michael Hinkelman)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080813_Fumo_s_list_of_potential_...

Opponent rebuts Regola's parting shot

Democratic state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani asserted yesterday that he would not have resorted to negative campaigning about the legal problems of his former opponent, incumbent Republican state Sen. Robert Regola III, who withdrew from the race Monday. (Post Gazette, Michael Fuoco)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08226/903796-181.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

DeWeese getting advice from longtime GOP adviser

HARRISBURG -- William J. Green, a Pittsburgh public relations consultant, has worked for House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and the Democratic Caucus since last year, but the taxpayer-paid bills don't show up in leadership expense accounts. (Tribune Review, Brad Bumsted)

Link:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582560.html

Veterans group will campaign against McCain

One base of Sen. John McCain's staunchest supporters might be eroding.

A group of 15 military veterans on Tuesday held the first meeting of the AFL-CIO Pennsylvania Union Veterans Council at the Sheraton Hotel Station Square. (Tribune Review, Mike Cronin)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582543.html

Orie, Fumo suggest new slots regulation law

HARRISBURG -- A Republican senator from the North Hills and a liberal Democrat from Philadelphia who disagreed about legalizing slot machines have teamed up to introduce legislation aimed at restoring public confidence in how casinos are regulated. (Tribune Review, Brad Bumsted)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582428.html

Pittsburgh City Council OKs public surveillance cameras

Pittsburgh City Council has unanimously approved a policy governing the use of a network of public safety surveillance cameras.

Council's newly amended policy requires police to have probable cause someone has committed a crime before programming the system to flag that person. (Tribune Review, AP)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582627.html

With the PolitickerPA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Pennsylvania's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.