Kim Ward

The campaigns for Republican Kim Ward and Democrat Tony Bompiani have confirmed to PolitickerPA.com that several signs have sprung up in the 39th Senatorial District asking voters to "write in Regola."

The signs refer to state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County), who stepped down from his re-election campaign this summer after poll numbers showed the senator trailing Bompiani. Regola was acquitted on perjury and gun charges this summer in a case that involved a neighbor's son using his gun to commit suicide.

Ward replaced Regola on the ballot.

"We're obviously as surprised as anyone else," said Bompiani spokesman Michael Monsour.

Will the reduced street money in Philadelphia have an affect on the outcome, or will the increased voter registration in Philadelphia overcome that?

Will an energized and superior ground force for the Democrats be enough to propel John Morganelli past Tom Corbett or is Corbett just too strong?

With PA-3 so close what will be the driving factor, change or will the power of incumbency be just too much for Kathy Dahlkemper?

Are we watching the end of Melissa Hart's political career? The once future-star of the Republican Party will be hurt by back-to-back loses.

Will Jim Gerlach lock down PA-6 in 2010 tonight? A strong win in this political environment by someone who is used to nail-bitters will deter any strong challengers next cycle.

Will Joe Sestak's hoarding of money come back to bite him in a Republican district?

Can Lou Barletta end Paul Kanjorski's career as the polls seem to indicate, or will voter registration trump all when it's all over?

Are we really talking about the possibility of a John Murtha loss? If he does lose will he explode on stage?

Could Jeff Piccola really lose? A strong district and great name ID, but still finds himself in a tough race.

Who would have thought it was possible for a Republican to to be competative in SD-17 in this environment. Could Lance Rogers pull an upset and make it a great day for Senate Republicans?

What happened to Tony Bompiani. Once thought to be competative could Kim Ward really be walking away with this one like many believe?

When SD-47 go into the polls will they see Jason Petrella's name or will they see Mike Veon's face?

Will Joe Scarnati really be able to make Republican gains in the Senate in a Democratic year?

Will Republican make gains in the House and be able to take back the speakers chair or will Democrats be able to make enough pick-ups to take it from O'Brien?

We will know soon enough.    

HARRISBURG -- Barack Obama's support in Pennsylvania, despite a double-digit lead in most polls, is relatively soft in western Pennsylvania.

AFL-CIO President Bill George is trying to change that.

In a press conference at the Capitol, the powerful union head said he thinks 71 percent of union members will strongly support the Democratic presidential nominee on Election Day -- higher than the percentage U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) received in 2004 and 2 points lower than the support former vice president Al Gore received in 2000.

If his Monday press conference was any indication, he will focus on two issues to persuade union members -- tax cuts and social security.

"You can see the influence of John McCain is still about Wall Street," George said.

Reaction to Democratic state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani's accusation Tuesday that his opponent and Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward has neglected constituents while running for a new office was split along party lines between two local politicos.

Bompiani's campaign said Ward, who became commissioner 10 months ago, has attended all her meetings but has not logged the necessary work away from the office. It's a criticism Ward denies, saying Bompiani is simply trying to distract voters in the 39th Senatorial District from the campaign's real issues.

But Bompiani's accusation was supported by Ward's colleague, Democratic Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Balya.

"In reality, she's only been in her job as county commissioner a little over 9 months now, and frankly, has shown very little interest in learning the details of how county government works," Balya told PolitickerPA.com.

What do you get when you combine a run for state Senate, a position in John McCain's presidential campaign and a day-job as commissioner of Westmoreland County?

Too much for Kim Ward to do, according to the campaign for state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani. On Tuesday, it accused Ward, who became county commissioner 10 months ago, of neglecting her duties and constituents while seeking higher office in the 39th Senatorial District.

"In those 10 short months, Commissioner Ward has not only lost full-time focus on the people of Westmoreland County by entering the race for state Senate," a campaign spokesman told reporters on a conference call, "but now she has shouldered even more distractions by recently taking on more responsibilities as the acting regional director of the McCain-Palin campaign and active member of the McCain-Palin Truth Squad.

"That has our campaign begging the question: 'Whose interest does Commissioner Ward have at heart?" the spokesman asked.

Ward defended her record as county commissioner and shot back at Bombpiani that public officials must "multi-task."

Democratic state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani will join state AFL-CIO President Bill George on Wednesday at a campaign stop in New Stanton.

Bompiani, considered by Democrats as one of their best opportunities for a pickup in the Senate, will join George at a worksite leafletting event outside a UPS Customer Center from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Bompiani faces Westmoreland County Republican Commissioner Kim Ward in the state's 39th Senatorial District this fall. Ward was a last-minute replacement for state Sen. Bob Regola, who unexpectedly dropped out of the race. 

The campaign stop for George is part of a weeklong western Pennsylvania bus tour for the union president as he tries to raise support for local candidates and the Democratic presidential ticket. 

State Senate Democrats, eager to narrow the Republican majority, are pegging their hopes on a few open seats.

Republicans currently hold a 29-21 advantage in the chamber, a majority Democrats hope to erase in two years. But for now, the immediate focus is on seats without incumbents.

"We are looking at a couple of open seats, and we're very optimistic about them," state Sen. Connie Williams (D-Montgomery), who is chairing the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee, told PolitickerPA.com in an interview this week.

Two weeks ago the Senate Republican Committee convinced Bob Regola to step aside because polling showed him losing badly in his race and he was replaced by Kim Ward.  It appears Republicans are not the only ones who pick their candidates with polling information.

Today the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee will be picking their candidate for PA-47 to replace Sean Ramaley.  Last week Lawrence County supported Jason Petrella and Beaver County has supported County Commissioner Joe Spanik.  With each candidate getting the support of one county the decision was sent to the State Democratic Executive Committee. 

Early word was the Executive Committee was going to strongly support Spanik who has long been active in the party.  Petrella seems to have an advantage though heading into the vote thanks to polling that shows him running stronger in a general election.  According to one source Democratic Senate Leader Bob Mellow is working the phones hard to make sure Petrella is the candidate because of his stronger polling numbers.  While both candidates polled ahead of Republican Elder Vogel, but according to a source Petrella was stronger.  We have had reports that Mellow has been joined by other Senators on the phone, but have yet been unable to confirm.

Kim Ward faces many challenges as she scrambles to make herself into a state Senate candidate.

Raise her name recognition, rein in disappointed supporters of state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County), tout her Republican principles.

But after two days full of campaigning following her official appointment Saturday, Ward has come across another, unexpected, difficulty -- answering the phone.

"My phone rings constantly," Ward told PolitickerPA.com. "I need somebody else to take these calls. I can't keep track of everything I need to to."

Nov. 4 won't be the first time state Senate candidates Tony Bompiani and Kim Ward go head to head.

The Democrat Bompiani served on the Hempfield Area School District school board while the Republican Ward was a Hempfield Township supervisor.

"I know Kim Ward very very well professionally," Bompiani told PolitickerPA.com. "She's very tough ... very hard-nosed.

"It's going to be a nice ride," he said.

Ward has not officially been picked to replace state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County), but she is the heavy favorite to be selected by the Westmoreland County Republican Committee after announcing her candidacy this week. The committee convenes Saturday to make the selection.