Wake-Up Call: Wednesday, September 3, 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.

This week, Politicker.com will be at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stay tuned to Politicker.com over the course of the week for live updates from the convention.

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.

In reversal, Santorum now enthusiastically backs McCain

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum told his former Pennsylvania constituents Tuesday morning that despite his once withering criticisms of John McCain, the U.S. senator from Arizona has performed marvelously since emerging as the GOP's presidential candidate. (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/1584/reversal-santorum-now-enthus...

John Baer: GOP avoids issues, but is it 'enough'?

ST. PAUL - On the way to the Xcel Center for the Republican National Convention, I spy a middle-aged couple (I assume Democrats; they have a small Barack Obama sign) sitting on lawn chairs on a bridge over I-494.   (Philly Daily News, John Baer)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080903_John_Baer__GOP_avoids_iss...

N.E. Phila.: Key to McCain Pa. victory?

IF JOHN MCCAIN hopes to win the key state of Pennsylvania, conventional wisdom holds, he'll have to find his votes outside Philadelphia, which is teeming with devoted African-American supporters of Barack Obama.

But those offering that wisdom should make a trip to Mayfair. (Philly Daily News, Catherine Lucey)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080903_N_E__Phila___Key_to_McCai...

Ethics board sees union bug on fliers that violated state election law

A legal action filed by the city Board of Ethics links the city electricians' union to two anonymous fliers distributed in last year's mayoral election, both violating a state law by failing to disclose who paid for them.

One of the fliers, criticizing Michael Nutter's "stop and frisk" policy, had already been traced to Tommie St. Hill, a political consultant who received about $70,000 last year from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and its political action committee. (Philly Daily News, Bob Warner)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080903_Ethics_board_sees_union_b...

No GOP speech, but no regrets for Hackett

Congressional candidate Chris Hackett chose family and campaigning over what he deemed “a slim chance” to speak at this week’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. He was scheduled to speak Monday night but concerns about the effects Hurricane Gustav had on the Gulf Coast curtailed the GOP festivities. (Post Gazette, Andrew Seder)

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

Carney-Biden meeting held in Scranton

U.S. Rep. Chris Carney returned from his mandatory active duty with the U.S. Navy Reserves just in time to meet with Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden at Scranton’s La Festa Italiana on Monday. (Post Gazette, Bill O'Boyle)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Carney-Biden_meeting_held_in_Scranton_09...

How to discuss politics

Political talk has been in full fury over the last few days, with everyone abuzz over Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain's controversial pick for vice president.

And it's likely to stay hot right up to the November general election. The next several months should be a time for all us lowly plebeians to flex our political muscles and make our voices heard. (Post Gazette, Brian McDonald)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08247/908802-176.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

Smithton mayor won't resign over stint in Iraq

Smithton's mayor is headed off to war.

Robert L. Prah Jr., a lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, will leave this weekend for training at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County.

On Sept. 19, he's bound for Iraq as part of the Guard's deployment of its Stryker Brigade. (Tribune Review, Jennifer Reeger)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_586180.html

Candidate off ballot for invalid signatures

An appellate judge says an independent candidate for Congress does not have enough valid signatures on his nomination petitions to put his name on the Nov. 4 ballot. (Tribune Review, Staff)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_586156.html

Sen. Williams feeds the hungry

Pennsylvania State Sen. Anthony H. Williams fed more than 2,500 folks at his annual street party in West Philadelphia yesterday. Free.

"On Labor Day, some people can't afford to get away," Williams said. (Inquirer, Walter Naedele)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080902_Sen__Williams_feeds_the_hu...

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.