Wake-Up Call: Monday, August 18, 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.

Dean: Pa. is a 'must win' for Obama

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today called Pennsylvania a "must win" state for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Dean's comments, reported by The Patriot-News, reflect consensus among Democrats that Obama cannot afford to lose a state that hasn't gone Republican in two decades, especially in what continues to be a close race. (PolitickerPA.com, Dan Hirschorn)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/danh/1238/dean-pa-must-win-obama

Ridge: GOP would accept abortion-rights VP

CHICAGO -- Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge said Sunday he thinks Republicans would accept a vice presidential candidate who supports abortion rights.

But, he said, whomever John McCain picks as a running mate should defer to McCain on the issue. (Tribune Review, AP)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_583550.html

John Baer: The Legislature bites you twice

AMONG INSULTS your Legislature foists on taxpayers is the huge cost of protecting itself while under investigation. The tab already is in the millions of dollars, promising to go higher.

It's not right and ought to be fixed. First, the background. (Philly Daily News, John Baer)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080818_John_Baer__The_Legislatur...

Rendell, the unwired governor

HARRISBURG - Gov. Rendell is the state's cheerleader-in-chief for high technology.

He crusades for computers in classrooms and high-speed wireless. He sprinkles his speeches with phrases such as "technology as a learning tool" and the necessity of learning computers to secure a good job.

Truth is, Rendell's a decidedly low-tech leader and proud of it. (Inquirer, Amy Worden)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080818_Rendell__the_unwired_gover...

Dueling drink tax questions under review

Both sides in the fight over Allegheny County's 10 percent drink tax submitted potential referendum questions to the county elections office last week, but whether both initiatives will make it onto the November ballot is not a certainty. (Post Gazette, Karamagi Rujumba)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08231/905101-181.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

Westmoreland commissioner endorsed for Regola seat

Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward yesterday won an overwhelming endorsement from the county's Republican Committee in a race for state Senate.

Ms. Ward is running to replace first-term GOP Sen. Robert Regola III, of Hempfield. Mr. Regola, who was elected in 2004, announced last week that he was pulling out of the race. (Post Gazette, Staff)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08230/905065-181.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

Area chair tackles GOP rebirth

Democrats occupy all Luzerne County row offices. The county commissioners consist of two Democrats and one Republican. The region’s two U.S. Congressmen are Democrats – one a freshman who ended Republican control of the 10th District seat after more than 40 years and the other a 12-term incumbent in the 11th District. (Times Leader, Bill O'Boyle)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Area_chair_tackles_GOP_rebirth_08-17-200...

Cyclists support Obama

JENKINS TWP. – A small group of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts gathered Saturday at the UFCW Local 1776 office to show their support for the American manufacturing icon and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. (Times Leader, Sherry Long)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Cyclists_support_Obama_08-17-2008.html

Report: 10th, 11th lean Dem

A longtime Washington, D.C., publication has rated the two congressional races in Northeastern Pennsylvania, finding each leaning Democratic. (Times Leader, Bill O'Boyle)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Report__10th__11th_lean_Dem_08-17-2008.h...

With shootings in mind, Rendell touts kennel bill

With his puppy-mill-rescue dog by his side, Gov. Rendell made an impassioned plea to the legislature yesterday to pass a bill that aims to make sweeping improvements in the state's commercial kennels. (Inquirer, Amy Worden)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080817_With_shootings_in_mind__Re...

McCain courts state one voter at a time

MANHEIM -- John McCain's last stop on a three-day swing across Pennsylvania provided clues as to how the Republican plans to beat Barack Obama in a battleground state the Democrat is favored to win. (Tribune Review, David Brown)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_583363.html

Another Fumo aide to plead guilty in probe

A second computer technician charged with carrying out an electronic cover-up in the federal corruption case against State Sen. Vince Fumo has agreed to plead guilty. (Inquirer, Michael Hinkelman)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080816_Another_Fumo_aide_to_plea...

Pa. disciplines 17 professionals from Luzerne County

The Pennsylvania Department of State on Friday released the names of 517 licensed or commissioned professionals, including 17 from Luzerne County, disciplined for violating either state law or professional board regulations between March 1 and July 31. (Times Leader, Andrew Seder)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Pa__disciplines_17_professionals_from_Lu...

Ex-Hewlett-Packard CEO stumping here for McCain

Former Hewlett-Packard chief executive officer Carly Fiorina will be in Northeastern Pennsylvania Monday to stump for presumptive Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. (Times Leader, Staff)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Ex-Hewlett-Packard_stumping_here_for_McC...

Democrat leader urges voter drive

HARRISBURG -- A nationwide drive to register voters for the Nov. 4 election, headed by Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean, stopped yesterday at Harrisburg's High School of Science and Technology to drum up support for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, the presumptive Democratic nominee. (Post Gazette, Kari Andren)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08229/904831-454.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

Murtha helps company that violated law

WASHINGTON -- Rep. John Murtha recently wrote a letter to State Department officials encouraging them to meet with the president of a Pennsylvania company convicted of illegally exporting components of night-vision goggles to a firm in India. (Tribune Review, AP)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_583130.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.