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Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (64-38) | Minnesota 4-5 | Fri-Sun vs. Cleveland
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👂 What do we hear. New Emerson College poll shows that Senator Bob Casey Jr. with a four point advantage over Dave McCormick.
🎂 Happy birthday. Cake and candles for Representative Marcia Mustello AND Danielle Otten Friel.
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The best story
1. Biden explains decision to drop out of 2024 race in Oval Office speech, beginning to shape legacy
“Emphasizing that “defending democracy is more critical than any title,” President Joe Biden On Wednesday, he will explain his decision to withdraw from running for re-election and express his support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The speech gave the public its first opportunity to hear directly from Biden why he withdrew from the 2024 election after weeks of insisting he considered himself the best candidate to face the former president. Donald Trumpwhich he called an existential threat to democracy in the country. It also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history would view his one term in office.” (AP)
Related
President Biden’s legacy leaves a mark on the Pittsburgh region“For decades, local politicians joked that the Scranton-born Mr. Biden was such an important figure in western Pennsylvania that he represented more than just Delaware.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Fox News Proposes Harris-Trump Debate in Pennsylvania“Fox News has proposed a new Sept. 17 debate for the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, a sign that networks see a new opportunity amid the chaotic race for the White House and the desire of both sides to bypass traditions that have been established in the past by the Commission on Presidential Debates.” (PoliticsPA)
Trump Pollster Warns Staff of ‘Harris Honeymoon’“Trump campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio sent a memo to staffers to allay any concerns about a so-called ‘Harris honeymoon.’” (PoliticsPA)
- Will Harris sway Pennsylvania voters? A Democrat and a Republican from Pittsburgh have something to say. (NPR)
- Pittsburgh-area Democratic delegates ranging in age from 20 to 76 face a higher profile as Republicans regroup ahead of the anti-Harris campaign. (Public source)
Harris lags Trump nationwide, but recent polls show improvement in Pennsylvania“Vice President Kamala Harris was outperforming President Joe Biden in the key swing state of Pennsylvania before Biden ended his reelection campaign and Harris became the presumptive nominee.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
RFK Jr. struggles to gain popularity as both sides unite“The independent candidate, far from trying to exploit the moment of coup, cancels events.” (POLITICIAN)
Country
2. Vice Presidential Democrats Turn to Swing State Governors
“How Kamala Harris appears destined to win the Democratic presidential nomination, talk about her potential vice presidential running mate has revolved around several key governors who could facilitate boost her chances in key swing states and boost candidates lower down the pecking order in November.
Swing state governors such as the governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Roy Cooper have endorsed Harris for president and are among those frequently discussed as potential vice presidential candidates. None have ruled out joining Harris’ ticket.
Their states will be key battlegrounds in the fall, and Pennsylvania in particular has the power to swing the outcome of the presidential race.” (USA today)
Related
Does Shapiro’s presence on the Democratic ticket matter to winning Pennsylvania? “Whether Gov. Josh Shapiro wins the vice presidential election or not, Democratic lawmakers and officials have expressed confidence that Pennsylvania will deliver a victory to their party’s flagship candidate, Kamala Harris, in the Nov. 5 presidential election.” (PennLive)
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis says he’s ready to act if Josh Shapiro becomes vice president“Davis is ready to take over whenever he is asked to do so, he said at a news conference Wednesday in Lancaster.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Rep. Susan Wild and House Democrats Launch Petition for IVF Exemption“After the Republican Party seized momentum from its convention in Milwaukee, when Vice President Kamala Harris took over as the presumptive nominee, Democrats are reaching back for the playbook.” (PoliticsPA)
DLCC invests $500,000 in Pennsylvania“The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced a $500,000 investment to help Democrats protect their majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.” (PoliticsPA)
McCormick campaign promises ‘aggressive’ Casey-Harris match-up by Election Day. “With just days left in the presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick are launching a “massive campaign drive” in Pennsylvania, linking her to Sen. Bob Casey on “radical liberal policies.”” (PennLive)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear appeal of provisional ballot in narrow Luzerne County House race
“The case is one of three pending before the court in connection with the race in the 117th Legislative District of the incumbent state senator Rep. Mike Cabell and the pretender Jamie Walshwho has already declared victory, will fight to collect all the countless votes.
At issue in the appeal accepted Wednesday is whether two provisional ballots — one submitted without a signature and the other cast by a voter who recently moved to another county — should have been counted. (Penn Capital-Star)
Related
Pennsylvania treasurer candidate says she doesn’t want Shapiro as Harris’ VP, breaking away from party caucus support. “Erin McClelland, a Democrat from western Pennsylvania, echoed criticism of Shapiro for his handling of the sexual harassment scandal and said she preferred North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in the role.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Democracy or Constitutional Republic: Which Option is Better for America? “Mercyhurst University professor and political science department chair Joseph Morris considers a particular course to be the most important he teaches. His course, Introduction to American Government, is an option for all students who wish to complete a core liberal arts curriculum.” (Erie Times-News)
Butler County District Attorney Disputes Testimony That Officers Left Precincts to Search for Trump Rally Shooter. “Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger insisted in a statement that the officers did not leave their posts inside the AGR building. He called the claim by Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris “misinformation.” “The claim that these officers left their posts is untrue,” Goldinger wrote. “They were performing their assigned duties.” (Tribune Review)
Candidate Series Spotlight: John George. “George is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in District 37, which includes parts of Lancaster County, including Lititz, Manheim and Clay Township. He is a registered Democrat who recently retired from the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units, where he served as executive director.” (Wide + Freedom)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
- Trump shooter story highlights need for more mental health resources in schools. (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
- Our city should not be bound by the private promise of a previous governor. (Ruth Ann Dailey)
- JD Vance could change the outcome of the Pennsylvania vote. (Dave Galluch)
- JD Vance has a lot of weird ideas about gender. (Laura K. Field)
- If Vice President Harris selects Governor Shapiro as her running mate, monumental changes could occur in Pennsylvania. (Joyce Davis)
- Governor Shapiro has failed again on school choice. There is hope, despite him. (Charles Mitchell)
- Generation Z needs school choice. (Steven Robertson and Joe D’Orsie MP)
- With Biden gone, Kamala Harris could make history by choosing her vice president. (Tom Allon)
1 thing
5. Is it worth waiting to swim after eating?
“Imagine: You’re 10 years old, you’ve just completely demolished the hotel breakfast buffet, and you’re ready for a day of pool fun. But wait—your parents say you have to wait before you can go swimming (boo).
Why? None of their answers seem very credible, and it turns out there is a good reason for that.” (IFL Learning)
