🏖️ Monday, Monday. Welcome to the last unofficial week of summer.
Pennsylvania Weather
🌤️ Cambridge Springs | Partly clear with a chance of rain, 85 🌤️ Mercersburg | Mostly clear, with a chance of afternoon rain, 88 ☀️ Emmaus | Mostly clear, 85
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (76-54) | Kansas City 11-3 | Monday-Wednesday vs. Houston ⚾ Pirates (62-68) | Cincinnati 4-3 | Monday-Wednesday vs. Cubs ⚽ Union (3rd place in League Cup) | Colorado 2-2 (PK: 1-3) | Wednesday vs. Columbus 👂 What do we hear“This is truly one of the most important states in the country,” he said. US Senator Cory Booker (DN.J.). “Where Pennsylvania goes, our country will go.” 🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Ryan Warner
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The most vital story
1. How the Trump campaign plans to bet everything on Pennsylvania
“Former President Donald Trump AND JD Vance are in the midst of an all-out blitzkrieg in Pennsylvania, putting more emphasis on campaigning in the Commonwealth than in any other state. As Trump looks to bite Kamala Harris“The numbers statewide, his campaign visits have been mostly focused on rural and working-class sections of Pennsylvania that he won in 2016 and 2020. Just this week, Trump visited York in the central part of the state and Wilkes-Barre in the northeast. And GOP sources told NOTUS to expect a lot more campaigning in those types of areas, both from Trump and especially Vance.” (known)
Elsewhere
Donald Trump’s Rising Support in Majority Latino Cities Like Reading Could Help Him Win Pennsylvania“In 2020, there were signs that Donald Trump was gaining traction with Latino voters in Pennsylvania. How they vote in November will be a key factor in determining the outcome.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Latino Votes Could Decide Election, Kamala Harris Knows“With about 100 days left until the election, the vice president inherited a campaign that was in danger of falling off a cliff among Latino voters, not only in swing states in the Southwest but also in battleground states like Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, which have rapidly growing Latino populations.” (POLITICIAN)
Trump to make campaign stop in Johnstown on Friday. “Trump’s campaign is planning a rally at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial in downtown Johnstown. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. Friday, and the Republican presidential candidate is scheduled to deliver a speech at 4:30 p.m.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)
Kennedy announces he is ‘suspending’ his campaign in some battleground states. “Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Friday afternoon that he is not withdrawing from the presidential race but is suspending his campaign in some key battleground states.” (PoliticsPA)
Cornel West can’t be on Pennsylvania presidential ticket, court rules“The Secretary of State’s Office found that West’s campaign did not have required affidavits from 14 of West’s 19 presidential electors.” (AP)
Country
2. Pennsylvania will be heavily contested in the race for the White House
“Prepare for nonstop advertising on TV and online, a steady stream of candidates and surrogates, mailboxes full of campaign materials and no shortage of guys ringing your doorbell. The most populous battleground state will not be without attention in the 71 days until Election Day. ‘It’s a perilous game to try to win without Pennsylvania,’ Democrat says Governor Phil Murphyneighboring New Jersey.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Elsewhere
Why won’t Pennsylvania voters find out results on election night? “Pennsylvania is one of seven states, including Wisconsin, a key election swing state, that bans mail-in voting before the start of the runoffs” (Fox News)
Fracking Takes Center Stage in Pennsylvania’s US Senate Race. “Vice President Kamala Harris has been the official Democratic presidential candidate for less than a month, but her presence is already changing the dynamics in key lower-level races. On July 26, Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick visited a fracking drilling rig in Warren County. One reason for his trip? To connect Harris with her opponent in the race, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey.” (Climate News)
Woman hit in the back by Senator John Fetterman hires lawyer, says she suffered ‘real injuries’.‘ “The 62-year-old Virginia woman has also hired a lawyer to help her pursue compensation for her injuries, sources said.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Q&A with Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman“As Pennsylvania political leaders consider whether to tax and regulate skill-based slot machines, which are currently exempt from state gambling laws, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman will be key to shepherding such a bill through the legislative process.” (City and state)
Pennsylvania State University Leader Calls Leaving the Hardest Decision of His Life“Standing aside from the burgeoning higher education experiment he has spearheaded for the past six years at the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education is not an easy feat for his chancellor, Dan Greenstein.” (PennLive)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. ‘Demstock’ Unites Rural Pennsylvania Democrats Who Want to ‘Lock Everything’ for Trump
“Hundreds of rural Pennsylvania Democratic voters spent the weekend at ‘Demstock.’ Think Woodstock in 1969, when some attendees camped there, but instead of the Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix, it was all about politics. Attendees bonded, feeling isolated in their mostly Republican communities and hoping to ‘spread their advantage’ in the battle between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump in a critical state of the battlefield.” (NBC News)
Elsewhere
Lehigh Valley delegates, politicians react to DNC as region remains key swing district. “Lehigh Valley delegates are coming off the Democratic National Convention energized and optimistic about the party’s chances in Pennsylvania. But can Democrats maintain their current momentum — and can Republicans counter their message in a key swing state?” (Morning call from Allentown)
Business group criticizes Trump for joining Democrats in opposing Nippon’s purchase of U.S. steel. “Former President Donald Trump last week renewed his promise to block the merger of Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel if reelected. The comments, which Trump made during a speech in York on the economy, drew the ire of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.” (WESA)
How One NPR Station Is Trying to Win Over Conservative Listeners – By Listening“In the face of a nationwide crisis of confidence in journalism, Scott Blanchard and his colleagues at WITF realized they had significant work to do by engaging the largely conservative part of Pennsylvania where they broadcast.” (Christian Science Monitor)
Gus Walz’s Joy Sends Central Pennsylvania Lawmaker into Social Media Storm: Here’s Why“Pennsylvania state Rep. Russ Diamond, a Republican, is standing by this week’s controversial social media post about Gus Walz, the son of Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, saying people largely misunderstood his message.” (PennLive)
Voting delayed pending court results. “Lawrence County Elections Director Asks Voters to Be Patient as They Wait for Mail-In Ballots for Nov. 5 Presidential Election.” (News from New Castle)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
- The Pennsylvania vote will provide female candidates with a historic legislative election. (Caroline Welles)
- In Chicago, Democrats redefined what it meant to be an American and then took it over. (There will be a Bunch)
- Missing Piece: There’s something missing from the P-Card scandal, and the Gainey administration is covering it up. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
- A more liberal immigration policy could lend a hand save the U.S. military. (Connor Joyce)
- The Gospel According to Kamala. (Nickel-plated Thom coins)
- Title IX rules reminiscent of Wolf’s face-covering mandate. (Beth Ann Rosica)
- Trump’s change of tactics would bring him prestige again. (Chris Freind)
1 thing
5. Dinner in Heaven
“Here’s a look at a restaurant in Poland that’s raising the bar for alfresco dining by lifting you and 21 of your hungriest adventurous friends 50 meters (164 feet) into the air using a crane. The waitstaff also makes the hour-long vertical journey, so if you’re leaving a 20% tip on the ground, maybe up that number a bit after you’ve finished your meal in the lower atmosphere. To answer your first and most obvious question, yes, Dinner in the Sky recommends using the restroom before you take to the skies, as the table will only be lowered in emergencies and won’t be raised again. As for your safety concerns, guests are strapped into their chairs, which gives a whole new meaning to loosening your belt after your meal.” (Morning coffee)
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