Christine Toretti

Joe Biden: Getty Images PhotoA quartet of western Pennsylvania Republicans seized Tuesday on statements made by Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden that he opposes building "clean coal" plants, saying the Democratic presidential ticket clearly doesn't understand the needs of the Keystone State's middle-class families.

"It's fairly clear Joe Biden has sided with the faction of radical environmentalists that is opposed to any application of clean coal," said U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Erie).

"Senator McCain has spelled out in great detail his strong position on energy that is ultimately a winner for him in Pennsylvania," he said.

English was speaking with reporters on a conference call organized by John McCain's campaign, which acted quickly to exploit Biden's statements to gain an advantage in the state's western half. Clean coal technology is a Holy Grail of the once-heavily industrial region, carrying with it the hope of an economic revival for an area struggling to create jobs.

Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift (R) will make three campaign stops across central and southeastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday as she tries to rally support for the Republican presidential ticket.

Swift will be in Harrisburg at noon to hold a "Women for McCain-Palin Coalition" luncheon at the law office Buchanan, Ingersoll, and Rooney, located in downtown. She will be joined by Christine Toretti, co-chair of McCain and Palin's Pennsylvania campaign. 

Swift will make a 4:45 p.m. stop in Wayne before finishing her day with a town-hall meeting in Philadelphia at the Parkway Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The event starts at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to Toretti, Swift will also be joined by state GOP Vice-Chairwoman Joyce Haas.