Wake-Up Call: Friday, September 5, 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.

Obama, liberals showing 'elitists skirts,' Ridge says

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R) gave a fiery speech to the Pennsylvania delegation gathered for breakfast Thursday morning, expressing outrage at what he saw as Barack Obama's "elitist" criticism of Sarah Palin's experience as a small-town mayor.  (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/1627/obama-liberals-showing-eliti...

Fumo praised as ground broken for new produce center

Breaking ground yesterday for a new regional produce center, supporters said the $218 million project would relocate the city's largest fruit and vegetable wholesalers from antiquated facilities in South Philadelphia to a sprawling, state-of-the-art plant in the city's Southwest. (Inquirer, Michael Matza)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080905_Fumo_praised_as_ground_bro...

Phila. council bill could eliminate 2 GOP seats

While the GOP was anointing its presidential ticket in Minnesota this week, a Philadelphia Democrat was scheming to all but eliminate Republicans on City Council. (Inquirer, Jeff Shields)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080905_Phila__council_bill_could_...

Nutter announces fund-raiser for President's House project

The President's House memorial project, long anticipated and much debated and delayed, received formal sanction from the Nutter administration yesterday afternoon at a blistering-hot news conference held at Sixth and Market Streets. (Inquirer, Stephan Salisbury)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080905_Nutter_announces_fund-rais...

John Baer: McCain & Palin will make Pa. an exciting battleground in November

ST. PAUL - John McCain's not a great speaker.

And his message is mostly POW, national security, straight talk, country first, the economy not so much and, oh, after 26 years in Washington, he's now an agent of change. (Philly Daily News, John Baer)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080905_John_Baer__McCain___Palin...

2 at-large Council seats targeted

Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. plans to propose a charter change that would reduce the number of at-large City Council seats from seven to five - a move that would effectively eliminate the two at-large seats that traditionally go to Republicans. (Philly Daily News, Catherine Lucey)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080905_2_at-large_Council_seats_...

Obama tells turbine workers he won't forget hydropower ate's GOP strongholds

YORK -- Robert Silknitter has worked for 38 years in the hydroelectric turbine industry here, and he had a pointed question yesterday for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. (Post Gazette, Tom Barnes)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08249/909678-470.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

No single, simple answer on how women see Palin

HERSHEY-- Elaine Slaboda is a longtime Democrat. She's also a supporter of strong, smart women.

That's why she's torn about how to vote in the presidential election. (Post Gazette, Tracie Mauriello)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08249/909679-470.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

State considers fees for trooper services in large municipalities

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering whether to impose a $100-per-resident tax on large municipalities that do not have their own police forces and instead rely entirely on state troopers. (Times Leader, AP)

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

McCain didn’t sway panel

WILKES-BARRE – Sen. John McCain’s speech Thursday night to accept the Republican nomination for president focused heavily on his military record and his love of America, but it didn’t do much to sway the undecided members of The Times Leader’s Voters Panel. (Times Leader, Andrew Seder)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/McCain_didn_rsquo_t_sway_panel_09-04-200...

Local GOP likes ticket; students favor Obama

WILKES-BARRE – While students at King’s College Thursday night prepared to watch Sen. John McCain deliver his acceptance speech, a group of Republicans were gathering a few blocks away. (Times Leader, Bill O'Boyle)

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

Obama makes stop in city for fundraiser

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama was in Pittsburgh on Thursday for a fundraiser attended by about 50 people at the Omni William Penn, Downtown, according to former Steelers running back Franco Harris, who attended the event. (Tribune Review, Mike Wereschagin)

Link:  http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_586542.html

UPDATE: Campaign confirms Obama's return to PA

In an e-mail message sent to the Times Leader, campaign officials for Barack Obama have confirmed his visit to Duryea tomorrow. (Times Leader, Bill O'Boyle)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Obama_to_visit_Schott_Glass.html

Lawmaker: Assess people for state police services

HARRISBURG -- Every household resident in townships with more than 10,000 people should be assessed $100 annually if the townships are using state police services rather than a local police department, a state lawmaker said today. (Tribune Review, Brad Bumsted)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_586461.html

GOP auditor general candidate expects Palin bounce

Minnetonka, Minn. -- First Arlen Specter, the longtime U.S. senator and national figure, spoke. He was followed by former governor, secretary of Homeland Security andperennial vice presidential bridesmaid Tom Ridge. (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/1638/gop-auditor-general-candidat...

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.