🎸 Good Thursday morning. I’m looking forward to seeing Bruce in Pittsburgh tonight.
Pennsylvania Weather
☀️ Pittsburgh | Sunny, 88
☀️ Harrisburg | Sunny, 88
☀️ Scranton | Sunny, 87
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (70-50) | Miami 9-5 | Thu-Sun vs. Washington
⚾ Pirates (56-64) | San Diego 2-8 | Fri-Sun vs. Seattle
⚽ Union (League Cup quarter-finals) | Saturday vs. Mazatlán
👂 What do we hear“(Incumbent senators) who met or exceeded that 50% threshold (in the polls) had a perfect score in our analysis, but incumbent senators who did not reach above 50% in the polls also often won.” – Sabato’s Crystal Ball
🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Senator John Fetterman.
🗞️ Pennsylvania Headlines >> Your Inbox. Where can I find the latest news about what’s happening in Keystone State politics?? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 a.m. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and sign up now.
The most significant story
1. Franklin & Marshall Poll: More Good News for Harris and Casey
“In what quickly becomes a trend, Vice President Kamala Harris AND Senator Bob Casey Jr. once again got some good news from the polls as the latest Franklin & Marshall College poll results were released on Thursday.
Harris has a three-point lead over the former president Donald Trump46-43%, although the margin is within the margin of error of plus or minus 3.8%. It is the fourth consecutive Keystone State voter survey to show the vice president ahead of Trump in the past week.
Casey increased his lead over his Republican opponent Dave McCormick since the last F&M poll in March. Pennsylvania’s senior senator is ahead 48-36 percent — five points more than in the previous poll.” (PoliticsPA)
Related
Quinnipiac Poll: Harris Maintains Slight Lead Over Trump in Tight Race“For the third consecutive poll, Vice President Kamala Harris received more support than former President Donald Trump in a survey of 1,793 likely voters in Pennsylvania.” (PoliticsPA)
- New polls show Harris beating Trump in Pennsylvania, among women, and in personality and honesty categories.Vanity fair)
- Pennsylvania Latino voters favor Harris after Biden leaves. (WHY)
- Luntz: Trump ‘commits political suicide’ as Harris takes ‘intensity advantage’ (Hill)
Cook Political Report Poll: Harris Still Shows Momentum. “‘In many ways, Harris is not burdened by what was.’ That analysis comes from Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Cook Political Report, after the group released its latest Swing State poll on Wednesday.” (PoliticsPA)
The road to the White House runs through Pennsylvania, with all four candidates visiting the Keystone State through Sunday. “Do you need more evidence of the pivotal role Pennsylvania will play this fall in choosing the next president of the United States?” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Could Kennedy be kicked off the ballot in Pennsylvania? “As the time approaches for names to be officially placed on the fall ballot, a New York state judge has dealt a blow to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign.” (PoliticsPA)
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to meet with Kamala Harris to discuss Cabinet positions. (Washington Post)
- Third Parties Had a Moment. Then Kamala Harris Came Out. (Traffic lights)
Country
2. Shapiro Still the Most Popular Politician in Pennsylvania After Presidential Election
“Governor Josh Shapiro He remains the most popular elected official in Pennsylvania after weeks in the national spotlight, a fresh poll shows.
Shapiro remains popular across party lines after the first-term Democratic governor spent weeks under scrutiny as a candidate for the post Vice President Kamala Harris“vice presidential candidate, according to two national polls released this week.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Related
Shapiro Mans at Fort Electoral in Pennsylvania“Keeping Gov. Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania could be the smoothest move yet for Harris-Walz. One of the nation’s most popular governors could be far more valuable running a battleground state than he was on the campaign trail.” (American perspective)
Bresnahan, Cartwright disagree on abortion. “Candidates’ stances on abortion could prove to be a deciding factor in the race for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)
Ad Watch: Ad attacking Susan Wild, criticizing her record on immigration, lacks significant context“This is expected to be a close race that could decide which party controls the House of Representatives—the Cook Political Report called it a “coin toss” and the New York Times called it “a race to watch.”” (Morning call from Allentown)
Scott Perry Wants to Talk Trade Defense, Not January 6 Investigations“In a relatively rare public appearance, Rep. Scott Perry spoke at a roundtable on manufacturing in Harrisburg on Wednesday, then brushed off any concerns about an investigation into his actions surrounding the 2020 election.” (PennLive)
Where the ticket won’t click“When President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection, most Democrats quickly rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris as their party’s presidential candidate — but a handful of Democratic candidates, both incumbents and challengers, held their guns in check,” including Janelle Stelson in PA-10. (POLITICIAN)
Pennsylvania Supreme Court sets Oct. 8 argument on claim that life without parole for murder is cruel. “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Oct. 8 in an appeal that could bring hope of freedom to more than 1,000 people serving life without parole for murders they did not commit.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. More Pennsylvania voters have registered as Democrats since Harris entered the race
“Pennsylvania Democratic voter registrations have skyrocketed in the three weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris According to the State Department, 110 people took part in the race.
The increase in Democratic registrations comes against the backdrop of a wave of polls nationally and in key battleground states that reflect growing enthusiasm for Harris’ candidacy, impressive fundraising numbers and a wave of highly detailed Zoom forums (see “Dead Heads for Kamala”) aimed at mobilizing support for the vice president.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Related
Maria Montano, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s communications director, is no longer a city employee“It was not immediately clear whether Ms. Montano had resigned or had been relieved of her duties by the mayor, but multiple city government sources confirmed she was no longer an employee.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Philadelphia teachers and students debate proposed cellphone ban in schools. “Pennsylvania passed a pilot law this year banning cellphones in schools. Will it actually improve learning, attention and mental health?” (WHY)
Half a dozen people are considering running against Larry Krasner for Philadelphia district attorney, including Judge“The early interest in the district attorney race from a handful of Democrats — including two former City Council members and a state representative — underscores the extent to which Krasner, a national leader in the progressive prosecutors’ movement, is a uniquely polarizing figure.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Innamorato Nominates Former Peduto Employee for Allegheny County Manager. “Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato on Wednesday nominated John Fournier — deputy city administrator of Ann Arbor, Michigan — to be county manager.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
Washington County pays special counsel $475 per hour to defend in ballot correction lawsuit“A special prosecutor was hired after seven Washington County voters sued the county election board for refusing to count their mail-in ballots because of errors on the outer envelopes and failing to give them the opportunity to correct the errors using ballot repair options that most other counties offer.” (Uniontown Herald-Standard)
The beginning of the end of the strike? Feds file short-lived injunction to keep Pittsburgh News unions back on the job“The National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday filed a motion seeking an injunction requiring a federal court to intervene to end the nearly two-year strike and allow striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers to return to work.” (Union Progress in Pittsburgh)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 thing
5. No Sheetz?
“The Pittsburgh Pirates and Sheetz are being sued by the Major League Baseball Players Association, the union representing MLB players. The suit for injunctive relief and damages was filed by MLB Players Inc. (MLBPI), a subsidiary of the MLBPA.
The case involves a sponsorship partnership between the Pirates and Sheetz that was announced on June 21. The complaint filed Wednesday alleges that both brands knowingly misappropriated the name, image and likeness of multiple MLB players for their promotional campaigns without a licensing agreement or proper authorization. The complaint adds that both the Pirates and Sheetz were repeatedly warned of their alleged wrongdoing.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
