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The best story
1. If Biden steps down, could Shapiro be considered for vice president?
“As the cacophony of voices from the Democratic caucus grows louder, President Joe Biden resigning as the Democratic presidential candidate, there is speculation about what would happen if that scenario came to pass.
Although many experts expect that Vice President Kamala Harris will take the top spot on the ticket, but that’s not a foregone conclusion. And whoever the Democratic nominee is, his first responsibility will be to choose a vice presidential replacement.
Could this be Pennsylvania? Governor Josh Shapiro?” (PolitykaPA)
Related
Harris’ allies prepare her defense“Kamala Harris’ allies are engaged in a delicate, behind-the-scenes effort to ensure the vice president moves to the top of the candidate list if President Joe Biden steps down, according to five people involved in the project or familiar with the discussions.” (POLITICIAN)
Will Josh Shapiro get a new job as Democrats worry about Biden’s prime? “Get ready, Pennsylvanians. For the first time since former Gov. Ed Rendell was in office, there is some lively and real speculation that your current governor—Joshua David Shapiro—might get a shot at a new job in Washington.” (PennLive)
Emerson: Trump widens lead over Biden“The lead in the Keystone State continues to grow. Former President Donald Trump now has a lead in the polls beyond the margin of error over President Joe Biden, according to the latest poll of 1,000 Pennsylvania voters conducted by Emerson College.” (PoliticsPA)
Trump leaves RNC in strongest position ever in Pennsylvania and the White House“In an election so unprecedented that the word seems to have lost its meaning, Trump has had a week that could solidify his return to power as he appears to be pulling away in a race that has been stubbornly close for months.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Time is running out for independent candidates to participate in the autumn elections. “If you’re not happy with your candidates this year and want a different option, you can still nominate yourself or someone else for the November election. That is, if you meet certain requirements and work hard to make it happen.” (WVIA)
Country
2. Pennsylvania Downtown Democrats Are Looking Beyond Biden to Run Their Own Races
“The one thing that has remained consistent is the tendency of Western Pennsylvania Democrats to stay out of such fights. And the reasons they do so suggest why replacing Biden is not as clear-cut as it might seem to many people — including the two-thirds of Democrats who told pollsters they wanted Biden to drop out.
“Democrats are in a situation where Biden is clearly struggling, but Democrats down the ticket are significantly outperforming him in the polls,” he said. “Being at the top of the ticket has an impact on who shows up to vote. But it’s not that bad, and candidates can find their own path.” (WESA Policy)
Related
IFO says general fund surplus likely to run out by next year“Some say this is no surprise, but the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) today released a five-year forecast of Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenues and expenditures and said the fund’s surplus will likely disappear next year.” (PoliticsPA)
Another change to Pennsylvania’s absentee ballot envelopes: the entire year will be pre-printed“The Pennsylvania Department of State hopes that another change to ballot return envelopes will eliminate the possibility of ballots being rejected in November due to voters not voting at all.” (Vote)
Davis denounces Project 2025 in Pittsburgh speech“On Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis spoke out against a possible second term for former President Donald Trump, a nationwide abortion ban and a recently released conservative policy proposal.” (Penn Capital-Star)
PA extends protection against baseless lawsuits seeking to restrict free speech“Pennsylvanians have new protections against lawsuits that seek to silence the public under a law signed this week by Gov. Josh Shapiro.” (PA reflector)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. Trump’s assassination attempt made voters start thinking about Election Day much earlier than usual, experts say
“Political experts say that the assassination attempt on the former president Donald Trump in Butler County, Pennsylvania, shocked many voters, causing them to think about Election Day much earlier than usual. But reactions to whether it will actually change who wins the White House have been mixed.
“When you look back at 1968 and the attack Robert F. Kennedy and suddenly it was put Hubert Humphrey at the top of the Democratic ticket, and the 1968 election was extremely close, Richard Nixon “I finally won,” he said Steve UlrichEditor-in-Chief of PoliticsPA.” (KDKA)
Related
After shooting, Butler puts politics aside, focuses on ‘trying to move forward’“Four days after Butler became the site of an assassination attempt on a major presidential candidate and a turning point in news reports around the world, Steven Green said most of the town’s 13,400 residents had apparently put politics aside.” (Public source)
Casey Seeks Answers About ‘Security Failures’ At Saturday’s Trump Rally“As family and friends, including fellow firefighters, prepared to bury former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore, the search continued for answers to how a sniper from Pittsburgh’s South Hills was able to shoot Comperatore, two other attendees and former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County on Saturday.” (Indiana Newspaper)
- Butler County Airport Authority denies Trump campaign request because of conflicting event. (Butler Eagle)
‘The contrast couldn’t be starker’: Suburban Philly Democrats respond to RNC speeches, reaffirm support for Biden“Democratic elected officials from Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties held a news conference Thursday in response to the GOP presidential candidates’ platform presented this week at the Republican National Convention.” (WHY)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
1 thing
5th National Pennsylvania Day
“National Pennsylvania Day July 20 recognizes the second state to join the Union. Once the temporary capital of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is also known as the Keystone State. While the source of the nickname has been forgotten, its meaning is not. Bridge builders know that leaving a keystone outside their structure would be foolish, leading to collapse.
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