Tony Bompiani

In July SD-39 looked to be like a strong pickup opportunity for Democrats. Dr. Tony Bompiani was preparing for his campaign against Senator Bob Regola while Regola was facing legal charges. A month later Regola was cleared of any wrongdoing yet still stepped down from the race after polling showed he had an uphill battle.

Regola's decision could set an interesting precedent for future races. In theory this could destroy the will of the people and primary campaigns. A candidate that is picked in the primary could campaign all summer then realize he is unable win because his polling numbers were to low. Then the party could name a replacement of their choice. So why have a primary? Under that system why not just let the party establishment and Senate leadership pick the candidates from the beginning. 

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.

When your line of attack agaisnt your opponent is they are neglecting their duties as an elected official, but then admit the opponent is attending all their meetings, it's time for a new line of attack. That lands Tony Bompiani on this week's Winners & Losers list.

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.