PA-18

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire: Campaign photoU.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) continues to maintain a cash advantage over challenger Melissa Hart in a matchup of two of the state's fundraising heavyweights.

Altmire raised about $456,000 in the second quarter, bringing his total fundraising take to $1.57 million.

His totals overshadow a strong quarter from Hart, who raised almost $300,000 in the second quarter. She now has roughly $624,000 in cash on hand.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair) continues to hold a prodigious fundraising advantage over Democratic opponent Steve O'Donnell after raising nearly $250,000 more than O'Donnell did in the second quarter.

Murphy raised $280,000 this quarter, bringing his total cash on hand to just more than $1 million. His campaign reported more than 1,200 donors have contributed.

O'Donnell, on the other hand, raised $43,000, bringing his total to little more than $113,000.

MONACA -- U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) told PolitickerPA.com in an interview after Wednesday night's town hall meeting he thinks his voting record, which he said is about 50 percent Democratic, proves his political philosophy matches the mostly centrist 4th Congressional District, which covers an area from the northern Pittsburgh suburbs to Mercer County.

Those votes, he said, will be the biggest difference this fall when he faces a rematch against Republican Melissa Hart, who had represented the district three terms until defeated by Altmire in 2006.

During that race, people voted against Hart more than they voted for him, he said.

"I have a record to run on now," he said.

Congressional candidate Steve O'Donnell: Courtesy Steve O'Donnell campaignMONROEVILLE -- The 18th Congressional District splashes across southwest Pennsylvania to create what can best be described as a giant Rorschach test. Its array of nooks and crannies, which spread across four counties from the Ohio border to near Johnstown, covers not just a range of geographic but socioeconomic areas as well.

But Democratic congressional candidate Steve O'Donnell contends the district's odd configuration works to his advantage. The former social worker and business owner says support from a constellation of local elected officials gives him access to voters his opponent, U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair), simply doesn't have.

One thing has been a consistent over the last few years; Congressman Tim Murphy will have a staff change soon. The latest is Garrett Murch who has been added to Murphy’s staff as a communications director. Murch replaces Mark Carpenter who left for a job on the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Reports has the latest House ratings.  Of the races that are up for grabs, Pennsylvania has six that are Rothenberg’s watch list.  read more »

Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report has the latest House ratings. Of the races that are up for grabs, Pennsylvania has six that are Rothenberg’s watch list.  read more »

Here's a look at the fundraising numbers for U.S. House races in Pennsylvania at the end of the first quarter: