Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey continued to hold his lead over Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday.
Toomey now leads Sestak 50 percent to 46 percent, with one percent preferring another candidate and 3 percent undecided.
The survey of 750 likely voters was conducted on October 28, and has a 4 point margin of error.
Toomey’s 4 point lead is virtually unchanged from the last Rasmussen poll released a week ago, though the number of undecided voters Sestak can court continues to dwindle.
Three weeks ago, when Toomey was leading 49 percent to 39 percent, Rasmussen said 10 percent of voters were still undecided. Last week, that figure dropped to 7 percent and is now at just 3 percent.
Sestak’s support is at its highest level since mid-May, according to the poll. He experienced a brief bump in polls after defeating incumbent U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in the primary election.
This is also the first time since February that Rasmussen showed 50 percent support for Toomey, who has fluctuated between 42 and 49 percent throughout the summer and early fall. He always outperformed Sestak in those polls.
A new Muhlenberg College/Morning Call tracking poll also had Toomey ahead Friday, a position he has maintained for a straight week in daily polling.
That survey, conducted October 25-28 among 470 likely voters with a 4.5 percent margin of error, put Toomey’s support at 47 percent to Sestak’s 42 percent with 12 percent undecided. Those figures are identical to Monday’s Muhlenberg poll.
Toomey’s favorability was evenly split at 38 percent, with 23 percent neutral or not sure. Sestak was viewed favorably by 37 percent of those polled, while 38 percent had a negative opinion of him. Twenty-five percent said they were neutral or unsure.
Sestak plans to rally in Philadelphia Saturday morning with AFL-CIO International President Rich Trumka and President Barack Obama before heading to an evening rally in Pittsburgh.
Toomey will meanwhile continue a nearly week long tour of the state, rallying with U.S. Rep Joe Pitts, R-16, and Lieutenant Governor candidate Jim Cawley in West Chester. Cawley is expected to join Toomey at another rally in Blue Bell later in the day.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey received the backing of the Philadelphia Fire Fighters' Union Local No. 22 (IAFF/AFL-CIO) Friday, according to the Toomey campaign.
“We here at Local 22 have followed your career and as citizens of the great City of Brotherly Love and uniformed servants to the people of Philadelphia, we feel that you will understand our plight and help make the working conditions for our firefighters and paramedics safe and secure,” said union President Bill Gault in a letter to Toomey. “On behalf of the men and women of this labor union, we wish you the very best on November 2nd and we look forward to a victorious win."
“Our first responders represent Pennsylvania's hard working men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and our families,” said Toomey in a release. “I look forward to working with them in the U.S. Senate.”

Carl Pope, chairman of the Sierra Club, will join Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz for a discussion about clean energy and job creation.

The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Lentz campaign office in Springfield.

Pat Meehan, the Republican in the 7th Congressional District race, was endorsed by 19 police chiefs today.

"I am honored to receive the endorsement of my law enforcement colleagues," said Meehan in a release. "During my tenure as D.A. and U.S. Attorney, I have worked closely with police chiefs from throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania to combat crime, get illegal guns off our streets, and make our communities safer.  I look forward to building on the numerous partnerships and initiatives we created and continue my efforts to keep our streets safe."

Welcome to Thursday, same as Tuesday.
Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, continued to lead Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, in the latest Muhlenberg College/Morning Call daily tracking poll.
Toomey leads by 8 points, 48-40, with 12 percent still undecided. There was a slight drop for Toomey and slight gain for Sestak in Wednesday’s poll, at 46 percent to 41 percent, but the numbers are now identical to the lead Toomey posted Tuesday.
Toomey was leading in polls throughout the summer and early fall. The candidates were tied at the end of last week in the Muhlenberg poll, 43-43 with 14 percent undecided, but Toomey has maintained a consistent lead since Saturday.
Toomey was viewed favorably by 39 percent and unfavorably by 37 percent, with 23 percent neutral or unsure.
Sestak was viewed unfavorably by 41 percent and favorably by 35 percent. Another 23 percent had no opinion of the Democrat.
The poll was conducted October 24-27 among 460 likely voters with a five point margin of error. Forty-eight percent of respondents identified themselves as Republican and 43 percent said they were Democrats. The rest were third party voters.
That’s the same percentage differential as Tuesday’s poll. The polls tighten slightly when more Democrats are in the mix, indicating candidate support falls largely along party lines, though Toomey also consistently leads among independent voters.

By DANIELLE LYNCH

dlynch@delcotimes.com

The Delaware County GOP has requested that the Federal Election Commission open an investigation into the role Democratic congressional candidate Bryan Lentz and his supporters played in helping third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller get on the ballot.

The Republicans’ request comes after Lentz, a two-term state representative, recently admitted that his volunteers helped Schneller collect signatures. After months of refusing to comment, Lentz admitted his role after being pressed by the Daily Times’ editorial board.

Lentz and Schneller are running against Republican Pat Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney, in the 7^th Congressional District race.

“Lentz is fond of pointing out that his efforts to place a third-party candidate to further his own political career, although perhaps unethical are not illegal,” wrote Andy Reilly, chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party, in a letter to the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday. “However, it is illegal to fail to report in-kind contributions in excess of the required reporting thresholds in an attempt to conceal contribution and evade open records requirements. I believe both Lentz and Schneller campaigns failed to meet these requirements and would like the FEC to open a formal investigation into the matter.”

In particular, Reilly pointed to a $100 cash payment to Kristen Kepics, a notary who notarized several of Schneller’s petition papers.

Schneller said he paid the notary and argued that he reported it to the commission in a lump sum. He also described the county Republicans’ complaint as “baseless,” and he said the candidates should instead focus on issues facing voters.

Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz, said that they did not pay the notary the $100. “I don’t know who made the payment, no paid Lentz staff was present at the ‘notary party,’” he said.

PennEnvironment, a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, announced Wednesday that it endorsed Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race.

"As a state representative, Bryan Lentz has been one of the strongest champions for our environment in Harrisburg," said PennEnvironment Director David Masur in a release. "Bryan fought for stronger clean energy standards, renewing the Growing Greener program to protect our threatened farms and open spaces, and to reduce water pollution from Marcellus Shale gas drilling."

The organization also endorsed Joe Sestak for U.S. Senate; Dan Onorato for governor; and Walt Waite for state House.

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey and Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, put out some new ads Wednesday.
Sestak’s is a radio spot featuring former President Bill Clinton, who talks up the Democrats 31-year service in the U.S. Navy.
Toomey’s is a Web-based ad focused on longtime Democrats who say they plan to vote Republican this year.

By DANIELLE LYNCH
dlynch@delcotimes.com

RADNOR – Vice President Joe Biden called on Delaware County residents to support the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, saying Bryan Lentz would fight for the middle class.

“I’m honored and grateful to be joined by a great champion of the middle class,” said Lentz, a two-term state representative, while standing on a stage at the township-owned Sulpizio Gym in Radnor next to Biden.

Biden urged voters to support Lentz because he will fight for the middle class.

“The middle class is hurting – it’s hurting badly,” said Biden.

Lentz said that as a former prosecutor and U.S. Army Airborne ranger, he learned the importance of showing up. He then criticized his Republican opponent, Patrick Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney, for backing out of debate a few weeks ago. Meehan refused to attend that debate because Independent conservative candidate Jim Schneller was invited.

“I’ve shown up,” said Lentz. “I can’t say the same for my opponent. … I know what’s on your mind.”

Biden said the failed policies of the Bush administration caused the economic crisis.

“The press thinks people are angry and they’re angry at (the Democrats),” Biden said.

Instead, Biden said, people are angry as a result of the “bankrupt policies” of the Bush Administration.

“They have every reason to be angry,” said Biden. “I’m angry.” 

Biden described Lentz as a man with impeccable integrity. “Public service runs in his blood,” Biden said.

            Before Biden took the stage, several Democratic officials said they supported Lentz and criticized Meehan.

            “I’d vote for Bryan even if I was running against him,” said state Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, of Upper Merion.

Shortly after the rally, the Meehan campaign released a statement. The campaign said Lentz “could use the help” after he recently admitted that his volunteers helped Schneller get on the ballot.

            “Its no surprise that Joe Biden would drop in for Bryan Lentz in the final days of this campaign since Lentz has indicated he would be a rubber stamp for the liberal agenda in Washington,” said Bryan Kendro, a campaign manager for Meehan. “Lentz has yet to say one policy issue where he disagrees with Nancy Pelosi and national Democrats, and has remarkably only said that Congress didn’t yield to their agenda.”

President Barack Obama will visit Philadelphia Saturday morning to rally supporters as part of a series events taking place across the country in the run-up to the Nov. 2 midterm.
The Philadelphia canvass kickoff event begins at 10 a.m. at the Student Pavallion at Temple University, 1901 N. 15th St.
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/PhiladelphiaRally/
This will be the seventh in a series of “Moving America Forward” the president has attended. Previous sites included Madison, Wisc., Columbus, Ohio, Los Angeles, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev.
Bridgeport, Conn., Chicago, Ill. and Cleveland, Ohio are on the schedule for additional rallies.
Former Preident Bill Clinton is also expected to visit regional colleges Thursday with U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, who faces former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville,  in the U.S. Senate race.

New polling indicates the U.S. Senate race between Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, and GOP candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville has tightened to a dead heat.
Wait. Now Toomey’s ahead by 8 points.
No, hold on. Six points.
Oops, looks like it’s neck and neck again…
It can be confusing for those keeping a close eye on the polls to figure out who, exactly, is beating who – if anyone really is.
The Muhlenberg College/Morning Call daily tracking poll for Wednesday (conducted October 23-26 among 457 likely voters with a 5 point margin of error) shows Toomey up 46 percent to Sestak’s 41 percent.
That’s a slight drop for Toomey and a slight gain for Sestak from Tuesday’s poll, when Toomey was leading 48-40. The number of undecided voters, at 12 percent, remained static.
But a Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted October 22-24 among 600 Pennsylvanians (of which 400 were likely voters) put the race dead even at 46 percent. That survey also had a 5 point margin of error.
Toomey and Sestak were also tied in Muhlenberg surveys released October 21 and 22, but the Republican has led in the last five findings.
Neither seem particularly likeable in those surveys. According to Wednesday’s Muhlenberg poll, Toomey was viewed unfavorably by 39 percent and favorably by 37 percent, with 23 unsure.
Forty percent said they view Sestak unfavorably while 37 percent said they have a positive view of him. Twenty-four percent said they are still unsure or have no opinion.
New data in a Franklin and Marshall College poll shows the candidates are statistically neck and neck among all voters, but Toomey leads by 7 points among those more likely to vote.
That poll found Toomey leads 43 percent to 36 percent among those likely to vote, with 19 percent undecided. He leads 37 percent to 35 percent among all voters, with 27 percent still undecided. Those trends have held steady for both groups since August.
The Franklin and Marshall poll of 720 adults included 631 registered voters – 271 Democrats and 256 Republicans, with another 79 registered with another party and 25 who refused to identify their party.
The poll had an overall sample error of 3.7 percentage points; 3.9 points for registered voters and 4.4 points for the 489 likely voters surveyed.
Sestak was leading among those who labeled themselves liberal or moderate, while Toomey secured male voters and all age groups.
Toomey also had the backing of married couples, whites, and a broader cross-section of religious respondents, while hose making less than $35,000, non-whites and those with a college degree were more likely to support Sestak.
Somewhat surprising in the Franklin and Marshall poll was military veteran support for Toomey.  Sestak served in the U.S. Navy for 31-years, rising to the rank of a 3 Star Vice Admiral, but veterans went for Toomey 53 percent to 31 percent. Non-veterans also favored the Republican candidate.
Regionally, Sestak was leading by a wide margin in Philadelphia, a Democratic bastion in Pennsylvania, and maintained a slight 47 percent to 41 percent lead in the southeast. Toomey was leading in the rest of the state, especially in central Pennsylvania.
The poll reiterated past findings that voters are planning to vote according to their views on President Barack Obama. About two-thirds of Toomey supporters said they vote would be against Obama, while about half of Sestak supporters said their vote would be mainly to support the president.
Likely voters included a much larger proportion of Republican voters in the 2008 presidential election. Only one third of those who voted for Obama in 2008 were in that camp, as were slightly more than half of those who voted for GOP candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Only 27 percent of those surveyed said they think Pennsylvania is heading in the right direction and only 28 percent approve of the job Gov. Ed Rendell is doing.
Republicans also have a 13 percent edge among those who are very interested in this election and very likely to vote, according to the Franklin and Marshall poll. 

Republican U.S. Senate canddiate Pat Toomey unveiled his final television ad Wednesday, titled "Focus."
Follow this link to take a gander.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll of the Senate race in Pennsylvania puts Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, neck and neck. 
Excerpts from Andy Sullivan's story follow:


Democrat Joe Sestak has gained ground on Republican Pat Toomey after
accusing him of wanting to export U.S. jobs to China and both candidates are
now level on 46 percent.

While dozens of Democrats across the country may lose their seats due to the
9.6 percent unemployment, Sestak appears to have turned the issue to his
favor.

He has hammered Toomey's support of free-trade policies and even suggested
in one advertisement that Toomey "ought to run for Senate in China." Many
Americans resent the rapid rise of cheaper manufacturing in China that has
cut into U.S. jobs.

Sestak was ten points behind the Republican, a former derivatives trader, in
the last Reuters/Ipsos poll in Pennsylvania in late August.

"Sestak's campaign made a concerted effort to talk about how they're the
candidate who stands for American industry versus Toomey, who stands for
Wall Street," said Ipsos senior research manager Chris Jackson. "They have
been able to take that particular issue and twist it to their advantage."

In Tuesday's poll, some 48 percent of those surveyed said free trade
subjected U.S. companies to unfair competition from cheap labor abroad,
while 44 percent said free trade was good because it opened up global
markets.

By a margin of 37 percent to 31 percent, voters said Sestak would do a
better job than Toomey of keeping jobs in the United States. More voters
also said Sestak would be better at dealing with China and standing up for
U.S. interests.

Toomey was seen as more likely to balance the budget by a margin of 36
percent to 28 percent. The two candidates were seen as equal on creating
jobs in the state.
 
Ipsos surveyed 600 Pennsylvania adults between Friday and Sunday, and 400 of
those surveyed were identified as likely voters. The survey has a margin of
error of 4.9 percentage points for likely voters.

President Bill Clinton will try to rally voters around Democratic U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, at three regional schools Thursday.
Sestak and Clinton will hit Bryn Mawr College at 4 p.m., Cheyney University at 5:45 p.m. and Temple University at 8 p.m.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, continued stretching his lead over Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, in a new Muhlenberg College/Morning Call daily tracking poll Tuesday.
According to a poll of 448 likely voters conducted October 22-25, Toomey added one point to yesterday’s 47-42 lead while Sestak dropped two points.
Toomey now leads 48-40 with 12 percent of voters undecided.
Toomey was leading in polls throughout the summer, but the two candidates were in a dead heat in Muhlenberg surveys released October 21 and 22.
Toomey has been leading in four consecutive tracking polls, but this is the first time he has gotten outside the 5 percent margin of error threshold.
His favorability ratings slipped one point in this poll, however, to 37 percent. Another 36 percent view Toomey favorably and 27 percent are ambivalent.
Sestak’s favorability ratings also went down a point. He is now viewed favorably by 35 percent of those polled and unfavorably by 38 percent. Twenty-seven percent said they still don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.
The Muhlenberg College/Morning Call tracking poll will update daily until Nov. 1, one day before the midterm election.

Vice President Joe Biden will be making his way to Delaware County to stump for state Rep. Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7^th Congressional District race, on Wednesday after all.

Biden will attend a rally in support of Lentz at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sulpizio Gym in Radnor.

The Lentz campaign originally eyed Radnor High School as the location for the rally but those plans fell through on Monday morning.

For more on this story, check out Wednesday's edition of the Delaware County Daily Times.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, is again pulling ahead of Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, in Muhlenberg College/Morning Call daily tracking polls.
According to a poll of 437 likely voters released Monday, Toomey is now on track for 47 percent of the vote with Sestak trailing at 42 percent. Another 11 percent remain undecided in the latest poll, which was conducted October 21-24 and has a 5 point margin of error.
Toomey was leading in polls throughout the summer, but the two candidates were in a dead heat in Muhlenberg surveys released October 21 and 22.
Toomey began to pull away again late last week as undecided voters started to dwindle, indicating they could be moving to his camp.
Toomey meanwhile maintained an evenly split 36 percent favorabiltiy rating in the latest tracking poll, with 28 percent saying they are neutral or not sure.
Sestak was viewed favorably by 35 percent of those polled and unfavorably by 37 percent. Twenty-nine percent said they still don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.
The Muhlenberg College/Morning Call tracking poll will update daily until Nov. 1, one day before the midterm election.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has plans to attend a rally in support Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7^th Congressional District race, on Wednesday morning.

The rally will take place at the Radnor High School gymnasium, according to a news release from the Lentz campaign. The event is open to the public and registration begins at 9 a.m.

UPDATE:
The event appears to have been canceled. There is no word from the Lentz campaign as yet, but a missive from Republican candidate Pat Meehan questioning the cost for such a rally - and it's timing during school hours - might have been the culprit. 
The release from Meehan is as follows:

DREXEL HILL, PA - In light of reports that Vice President Joe Biden is coming to Radnor High School to campaign for Bryan Lentz, the Meehan for Congress campaign today called on Lentz to disclose who is paying for this trip.
"According to information from the Lentz campaign, the Vice President will hold a blatantly political rally during school hours where students and faculty will attend. Radnor High School is a public school, funded with taxpayer dollars, and Bryan Lentz should be required to reimburse taxpayers for all costs associated with this political trip," said Bryan Kendro, campaign manager for Pat Meehan.
A typical vice presidential visit requires extensive local security and the exorbitant costs of his travel requirements. Voters deserve to know who is paying for this campaign junket.

As part of several rallies this weekend, Democratic Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, will be visit supporters in Media on Sunday.
The event begins at 5:45 p.m. at the '08 Obama Office at 340 W. Baltimore Ave.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, received the endorsement of former New York Mayor and 2008 Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani Friday at a rally in Blue Bell.
“I know Pat will be victorious on November 2nd, because his vision of fiscal responsibility, cutting taxes, and creating jobs is exactly what our country needs right now, and it is exactly what people in Pennsylvania and all across America are clamoring for,” said Giuliani in a release.
“I am honored to have Mayor Giuliani's endorsement and support,” said Toomey. “As mayor of New York City, he took on the establishment, cut taxes, reduced spending, cut the bureaucratic red tape, and the result was economic growth. Those are exactly the kind of policies we need to bring to Washington instead of the disastrous policies Congressman Sestak has embraced over the past four years.”

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey’s 10-point lead over U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, in a Rasmussen Reports survey two weeks ago has been cut to just 4 points in a new poll released Friday.
According to the new Rasmussen poll of 750 likely voters conducted Oct. 21, voters favored Toomey, of Zionsville, 48 percent to Sestak’s 44 percent.
A Rasmussen survey conducted Oct. 12 had Toomey up 49 percent to Sestak’s 39 percent, with 10 percent undecided. Some of those appear to have sidled over to Sestak, with 7 percent still undecided.
That is consistent with other recent surveys that have shown Sestak gaining ground on Toomey, whose support has remained steady over the summer.
Both Rasmussen polls had a 95 percent level of confidence with a 4 point margin of error.

State Rep. Nick Miccarelli, R-162, of Ridley Park, announced Friday that he has received an array of endorsements.

Both the Southeast PA Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO have supported Miccarelli’s bid for re-election.

In addition, Miccarelli has received support from the Philadelphia and Delaware County Building Trades Councils. The Fraternal Order of Police has also placed its support behind Miccarelli’s bid for a second term.

“Working for the residents of the 162^nd district is a great pleasure, and I look forward to continued service to the residents of the district, Delaware and the commonwealth,” said Miccarelli in a release. “I will continue to bring common sense solutions to Harrisburg and remain committed to fighting for the constituents of our area.”

Miccarelli is running against Democrat Scott MacNeil, a carpenter who serves on Sharon Hill Borough Council.

Rocky Brown, the Republican candidate for State Representative in the159^th Legislative District, was endorsed by two local Fraternal Order of Police Lodges.

In a release Friday, Brown announced that Chester City Lodge #19 and Delaware County Lodge #27 endorsed him. Brown is running against incumbent state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, of Chester.

Brown will conduct a news conference about the endorsements at 2 p.m. Saturday at the old courthouse in Chester.

On Monday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-13, of Jenkintown, Montgomery County, will be helping host a “Women for Lentz” phone bank at Lentz's campaign office in Springfield from 1-1:30 p.m.

Schwartz is one of many Democratic officials who have stumped for Lentz in recent weeks. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Richard “Dick” Durbin, D-Ill., also participated in phone banking events at Lentz’s office.

Jim Schneller, the Independent conservative candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, requested that the major-party candidates include him in the final debate this election season.


"It is only right that all candidates be present at public debates, and I request that you overcome any reasons that might stand in the way of this," Schneller wrote in a letter to Republican candidate Pat Meehan and Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz. "My candidacy has been formally declared and I have overcome all legal challenges. 

"The citizens of the 7th District and of the Philadelphia metropolitan area need debates that involve all of the candidates and all viewpoints. This is a year when alternate candidates have real chances to win, and the American way thus shine in ways unexpected but always anticipated by our Constitution.

"... Please, I urge you to schedule me as participant immediately. You are welcome to place any of the usual burdens on me necessary to ascertain or ensure features that are typically negotiable. You are aware of my fully acceptable demeanor and my common sense political platform. I demand nothing, or the very minimum, in the way of any procedural tailoring, and can participate within your format. Thus time is not a factor."

The debate will take place at 6 p.m. Monday at Neumann University in Aston.

Democrat Bryan Lentz announced today that he will be endorsed Monday be CeaseFirePA and concerned mothers of 7th District. The endorsement event will take place in Norristown.

***
In other Lentz news, he is one of 22 of the region's state representatives who received an environmental score of 100 percent from PennEnvironment, a statewide environmental advocacy group.

Republican Pat Meehan announced today he will embark on a tour of "24 Stops in 48 hours". The tour will begin at 5 a.m. Thursday in Delaware County and wind through Montgomery and Chester counties.
"I am very excited to capitalize on our campaign's momentum and embark on this tour as we go into the final days before Election Day," said Meehan in a release. "The support we've received has been outstanding, and I look forward to using this opportunity to meet as many voters as possible as we approach Tuesday."

Similiar to the major-party candidates, Jim Schneller, the Independent conservative canidate in the 7th Congressional District race, will meet with the Daily Times' editorial board. His meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday. It will streamlined live at http://www.delcotimes.com/.


***
In other Schneller news, he blasted both major-party candidates after Democrat Bryan Lentz admitted to helping him get on the ballot. Lentz admitted that his volunteers played a role during a meeting with the Daily Times' editorial board on Tuesday.


"The new ‘revelation’ is proof ... that both parties fear the Schneller candidacy, and so the corruption-kings devised a strategy, now in its final phase," Schneller said in a release. "This is proof positive that Jim is the virtuous non-corrupt candidate. Both campaigns and both parties owe Jim Schneller an apology."

The Obamas are coming to town.
President Barack Obama will return to Philadelphia Saturday, October 30, for one last rally for Democratic candidates. Quick on his heels will be first lady Michelle Obama, who will also headline a Philadelphia rally November 1.
The city is a bastion of Democratic voters in Pennsylvania and critical to their statewide candidates’ chances in the Nov. 2 election. Obama’s first public political event since taking office was also in Philly Oct. 10, at a Germantown school.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows the U.S. Senate race between Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Joseph Sestak is in a statistical dead heat, continuing a recent trend in polling data.
Toomey, a former Congressman from Zionsville, captured 48 percent of likely voters, while Sestak, the 7th Congressional District Representative, secured 46 percent. The poll was conducted Oct. 13-17 among 1,046 likely voters with a 3 point margin of error.
The figures follow a trend over the past two weeks that show the Democrat gaining ground.
On Tuesday, a Public Policy Polling survey showed Sestak leading 46 percent to 45 percent with another 9 percent undecided.
A Morning Call/Muhlenberg College Tracker poll released Wednesday indicated Sestak was up 44 percent to 41 percent with 15 percent undecided.
Two internal Democratic polls also showed the race tightening.
The latest Quinnipiac Poll indicates Toomey still has a significant edge among independent voters, at 56-35 percent, though 13 percent of Toomey’s supporters said they could change their mind before the Nov. 2 election. Nine percent of Sestak supporters said the same.
Forty-six percent of the respondents said they viewed Toomey favorably and 37 percent viewed him unfavorably. Sestak was viewed favorably by 45 percent and unfavorably by 36 percent.
When asked which candidate most shares their values, respondents were evenly split at 44 percent, but more voters, at 51 percent to 43 percent, said they want whoever is elected to oppose the policies of President Barack Obama.
“There is still a mood in the likely Pennsylvania electorate for change, which appears more likely to help Toomey than Sestak,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a release accompanying the poll.
Respondents’ views of the economy largely shaped their preference in the race, according to the data. Sestak was leading 84-14 percent among the 14 percent who believe the economy is improving. He also had a slight edge, at 51-44 percent, among the 49 percent who think it is remaining the same.
Toomey leads 70-23 percent among the 35 percent who think it is worsening. Only 2 percent of Republicans polled said they felt the economy is getting better, while 51 percent believed it is getting worse. Democrats, at 57 percent, overwhelmingly believe it is the same, though 24 percent said they think it is improving and 17 percent said it is worsening.
Brown attributed Sestak’s recent polling gains to a slightly improved opinion of Obama in the state and a typically late engagement from Democratic voters.
“This is not unusual, especially in off-year elections,” said Brown. “Democrats often engage later in the campaign than do Republicans. The political environment is more favorable now for them, as evidenced by President Barack Obama's improved, but still decidedly negative, job approval rating.”
Click here to view the full results.

The Delaware County Web site will display unofficial results for midterm election races beginning at about 8:30 p.m. November 2.
The page can be accessed by clicking the “Election 2010” link at www.co.delaware.pa.us.
The unofficial tally for Governor and Lt. Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Senate and Pennsylvania House of Representatives will be listed by municipality.
Those figures will reflect machine totals only, not absentee ballots, provisional ballots or write-in votes.
Numbers will be updated as they come in and will include up-to-the-minute running totals for all of Delaware County. The postings will also include results of local questions that may be on the ballot.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, will receive the endorsement of former New York Mayor and 2008 Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani Friday.
Giuliani will join Toomey and Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Jim Cawley, at the Center Square Fire Company in Blue Bell.
Toomey has long been an admirer of Giuliani, according to his campaign, and praised him 2007 for “transforming New York City from an economic basket case into a thriving economy” while mayor there.

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, got the backing of former Alaska Gov. and 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin in his bid for the U.S. Senate Wednesday.

Palin urged voters in “rust belt” and energy producing states to get behind Toomey and several other conservative candidates who oppose a cap-and-trade carbon emissions bill (or "cap-and-tax" in Palin parlance) at the polls November 2.

"Senate races in particular have national significance when it comes to legislation like cap-and-tax,” Palin wrote on her Facebook page. “Our Senate is the most prestigious deliberative body in the world. One vote there has consequences extending far beyond that chamber.”

The Democrat in the race, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, is meanwhile surging in recent polls. Toomey held a distinct advantage in polls over the summer, sometimes by double digits, but two internal Democratic polls last week indicated the race was closing.

A Public Policy Polling survey released Tuesday showed Sestak pulling ahead of Toomey by one point with 9 percent undecided and a Morning Call/Muhlenberg College Tracker poll released Wednesday indicated Sestak is leading 44 percent to 41 percent with 15 percent undecided.

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, admitted Tuesday that he helped third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller get on the ballot.

During a meeting with the Daily Times' editorial board, Lentz said his supporters coordinated efforts to assist Schneller with his nominating petitions. The move was done to siphon votes away from Republican candidate Pat Meehan.

After months of refusing to comment, Lentz admitted he played a role in the efforts. But he also said Schneller made the decision to run for Congress on his own. Lentz also noted that the efforts were not illegal.

"If somebody has already made the decision to run, I don't think that 'helping' with the process of signature petitions was improper," Lentz said.

The Meehan campaign criticized Lentz in a news release shortly after the editorial board meeting.

"It's about time Bryan Lentz would admit what the media has been reporting on for months. Despite his efforts to fool voters about his role in supporting Schneller's candidacy, he was forced to come clean, and he should apologize for not being forthright," said Bryan Kendro, campaign manager for Meehan.  "Bryan Lentz felt he was not a strong enough candidate to run on his own record that he had to ensure a shill candidate was on the ballot, too. Once again, voters cannot trust a word Bryan Lentz says."

A new poll from Public Policy Polling indicates the U.S. Senate has tightened to a statistical dead heat.
According to the poll conducted Oct. 17 and 18 among 718 likely voters, Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont has taken a slight lead over former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville,  the Republican candidate.
Toomey was soundly beating Sestak in an August Public Policy Polling survey 45 percent to 36 percent. The latest poll, with a 3.7 percent margin of error, indicates Sestak is now leading 46 percent to 45 percent with another 9 percent undecided.
Respondents were split 48 percent Democratic and 41 percent Republican, with 11 percent independent or third party. Forty-four percent of those polled described themselves as moderate, while 37 percent said they were “conservative” and 19 percent identified themselves as “liberal.”
Sestak was viewed favorably by 43 percent of respondents, while 39 percent had an unfavorable view. Another 19 percent were unsure.
Toomey’s favorability rating was evenly split at 41 percent, with 18 percent unsure.
Both Public Policy Polling and ABC News now characterize the race as a “toss-up.”
“No one would have expected that a month ago, but just as he did in the primary, Joe Sestak is closing strong,” said Public Policy Polling President Dean Debnam in a release accompanying the poll.

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7^th Congressional District race, was endorsed Monday afternoon by the National Federation of Independent Business.

“As I’ve traveled across the district, I’ve heard the concerns of small business owners who say that the Democrats’ economic policies are stifling job creation,” said Meehan, a former U.S. Attorney and Delaware County District attorney, in a release.  “Business owners fear looming tax hikes and new regulations that make hiring new employees more costly. The best way to spur job creation is to cut taxes and put more money into the hands of consumers and investors.”

Republican Pat Meehan and Democrat Bryan Lentz have both agreed to square off for a fifth and final debate this Election season.


The debate will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 at Neumann University in Aston.


Meehan declined another debate invitation at Temple University. His spokeswoman, Virginia Davis, said her boss didn't want to attend that debate because the location was outside of the district.

The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters retracted its endorsement of Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race.

"The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters is retracting its endorsement of Bryan Lentz for Congress in PA-7.," states a message posted to the union's website. "The duty and goal of endorsements from the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters is to help elect those to office who share their commitment and values of helping working families of Pennsylvania. The Conference must endorse and support people who will work to fight for our member’s best interest, regardless of party preference. The Conference targets particular candidates and carefully utilizes resources to ensure that we have a representative in Congress that supports what our members and the working people of Pennsylvania need most. The Conference no longer finds that Bryan Lentz would be the best representative for its members in the 7^th Congressional district and cannot continue to support his campaign for Congress."

                                                              

The Pennsylvania State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, on Thursday.


"As a former U.S. Attorney and District Attorney, I have the utmost respect for our men and women in law enforcement, individuals who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe," Meehan said in a release. "I am honored to have their support and look forward to working closely with our local and state police officers to ensure they have the tools and resources needed to do their jobs and protect local residents.  I understand the challenges they face on a daily basis and will fight for them in Washington, D.C."

A new poll released today by Franklin & Marshall College showed that Republican Pat Meehan was ahead of Democrat Bryan Lentz.

The poll, which was conducted Oct. 5-11, included 471 registered voters in the 7th Congressional District race. The voters included 172 Democrats, 249 Republicans, 39 Independents/other and 11 who refused to identify a party.

Among all registered adults, 33 percent favored Meehan; 28 percent favored Lentz; and 37 percent were undecided, according to the poll. The sample for registered voters has a margin of plus or minus 4.5 percent.

Of the likely voters, 34 percent favored Meehan; 31 percent favored Lentz; and 34 percent were undecided, according to the poll. The sample for likely voters has a margin of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

A Rasmussen Reports survey released Thursday shows GOP Senate candidate Pat Toomey leading Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, by 10 points.
The telephone survey of 750 likely voters in Pennsylvania was conducted on October 12 with a 4 point margin of error and 95 percent level of confidence.
It shows Toomey has 49 percent of the vote while Sestak picks up 39 percent. Another 2 percent said they prefer another candidate and 10 percent said they are undecided.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, has pulled ahead of GOP Candidate Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, in a recent poll conducted for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
The poll of 604 likely voters between October 8-10, conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang, puts Sestak at 44 percent to Toomey’s 42, according to a report from The Washington Post.
Including “leaners,” or those who slightly favor one candidate over another, Sestak leads 47 to 44 percent, according to the Post.

A new poll released in the 7^th Congressional District race Wednesday found Republican Pat Meehan was leading Democrat Bryan Lentz by one point.


The Hill 2010 Midterm Election Poll, which was conducted Oct. 2-7, included 405 likely voters in the 7^th Congressional District race.


Meehan is leading Lentz 40 percent to 39 percent. The sample has a margin of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

A full 20 percent of those interviewed said they were still undecided. Another 1 percent said they would vote for someone else.

Third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller is also in the race.

Jim Schneller, the Independent candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, was not invited to the "Meet the Candidates" forum hosted by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce on Monday night.

Read about the forum here.

Schneller said he asked the chamber to be invited. Schneller has not been invited to a few other debates between major-party candidates, Republican Pat Meehan and Democrat Bryan Lentz.

"First it's a radio station, then it's a community center, then it's a TV station and now a chamber of commerce is on board with the big parties' efforts to make the election their domain," Schneller told the Daily Times on Tuesday.

Mike Brady, president of the chamber, said Schneller was not invited to participate in the forum, but he was welcome to attend as a member of the audience. He said the planning for the event took place long before Schneller received enough signatures to get on the ballot in August.

Brady said the chamber's board decided early on to devote the event to the major-party candidates due to time constraints.

Some of the major-party candidates in the local races, however, did not attend the forum.

"The forum was from 6-8 p.m. If we opened it up to Independent candidates, it could still be going on right now," said Brady on Tuesday afternoon. "(Schneller) was never invited from the get go."

***
In other news, Schneller has filed an appeal over the Commonwealth Court's decision with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

"The Commonwealth Court has decided against our strong case as if the particular reasons we enumerated didn't exist, and this is especially distressing because Pennsylvania law requires careful decisions in this sort of case, because ballot integrity, and faith of the public in the election process are sensitive areas of law," Schneller said in a release.

Former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association this week in his bid for the U.S. Senate.
“Pat has the kind of qualities you want in a senator – attentive, principled, and balanced. His commonsense approach to being tough on criminals, standing up to law enforcement, and protecting our national security is the reason we are proud to endorse him,” said association President Bruce Edwards in a release.
“The State Troopers represent Pennsylvania’s hard working men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and our families. ,” said Toomey in the release. “I am honored by their endorsement today, and I look forward to working with them in the U.S. Senate.”
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, also received the backing of the Alliance for Retired Americans Tuesday.
ARA Pennsylvania chapter vice president Jerry Pollack said Sestak “has fought his entire time in Congress to protect and expand the trust fund,” and told seniors: “You will have a clear choice this fall, between Joe Sestak, who will defend Social Security, or Pat Toomey, who will gamble it away on Wall Street.”

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, unveiled an economic recovery plan on Monday.

Lentz released this six-point plan following the conclusion of his 10-week, 25-stop jobs tour at businesses throughout the 7th Congressional District.

Click here to read about Lentz's plan .

Major General James Livingston and Major General William Lynch endorsed Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, on Monday afternoon.

Livingston is a retired Marine Corps general who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions in 1968 during the Vietnam War. Lynch is a former Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, responsible for command of all Air and Army National Guard units allocated to Pennsylvania.

"It means a great deal to me to have the backing of those who served our country with dignity and honor in our armed forces," said Meehan in a release. "I have the utmost respect for the men and women who served in the military. And I believe strongly that our nation has a duty and an obligation to meet our promises to military personnel, veterans and their families, individuals who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and our way of life."

Meehan's opponent, Democratic candidate state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, was also endorsed by a prominent veteran.

Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, commanding general of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team in Iraq from 2003 to 2004, endorsed Lentz in late September.

Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuno put his support behind former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, of Zionsville, in his bid for the U.S. Senate.
“Pat Toomey’s message of lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, and reducing the size of government is resonating with voters across the state and I’m proud to support his candidacy for the U.S. Senate,” said Fortuno in a release form the Toomey campaign. “We need more honest, principled leaders like Pat who are unafraid to do what’s right.”
“I’m honored to receive Governor Fortuno’s endorsement,” said Toomey. “His record of cutting taxes, reducing the size of government and curbing wasteful spending is exactly the kind of policies we need to get our economy back on track.”

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 8 endorsed Republican Pat Meehan in the 7th Congressional District race today.

"I am proud to have the support from a diverse range of organizations and groups - businesses and unions, moderates and fiscal conservatives, and law enforcement," said Meehan in a release. "I thank the Stagehands Union for its support and look forward to the opportunity to fight for working families in Congress."

U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, will receive support from the man he defeated in the U.S. Senate primary during a fundraiser in Philadelphia Monday, the Sestak campaign confirmed Wednesday.
Longtime incumbent U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., whom Sestak defeated in a grueling primary battle in May, will join fellow Senators Bob Casey and Chuck Schumer, of New York, for the fundraiser.
Specter endorsed Sestak shortly after his defeat in the May primary, but this will be the first appearance by both men together since then.
According to a brief in the Philadelphia Jewish Voice, the event will focus on Sestak’s support for Israel, which has been under attack over the summer from various conservative groups.
Sestak will also appear at a public rally in Philadelphia with President Barack Obama Sunday. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have made several appearances in the run up to the November 2 election, trying to shake Democratic voters out of an apparent lethargy.

Congressman Joseph Sestak, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, fares only marginally better than his Republican opponent, Pat Toomey, in his home Congressional District, according to a new poll from Monmouth University.
According to a poll of 670 likely voters in the 7th Congressional District conducted October 4-6, Sestak holds only a 49-46 percent lead over Toomey – nearly a point within the poll’s 3.8 percent margin of error.
Statewide polls have consistently put Toomey in the lead, sometimes by double digits, but Sestak was generally considered a lock in the southeast.
Respondents were also split over Sestak’s job performance, however, indicating support here could be softer than previously expected.

A Monmouth University poll found Republican Pat Meehan was leading Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz in the 7th Congressional District race by a slim margin.

The poll, which was conducted Oct. 4-6, included 670 likely Pennsylvania voters. Meehan is leading Lentz 49 percent to 45 percent. Seven percent of those voters were undecided, according to the poll results released Thursday.

Of those surveyed, 40 percent are registered Democrats; 52 are registered Republicans; 8 percent are listed as other. The sample has a margin of plus or minus 3.8 percent.

A Commonwealth Court judge dismissed a complaint filed by Jim Schneller, the Independent candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, in an order Thursday morning.

Senior Judge Barry Feudale dismissed Schneller’s complaint in which he urged the Commonwealth Court to direct the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office to complete an investigation surrounding nominating petitions collected for Republican Pat Meehan.

The judge made the decision Thursday morning after listening to oral arguments from Schneller and attorneys representing the Attorney General’s office on Wednesday afternoon.

Click here for more information on Schneller's complaint.

All three candidates in the 7th Congressional District race are scheduled to appear on PCN tonight.

-Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz will be interviewed at 9 p.m.
-Republican candidate Pat Meehan will be interviewed at 9:30 p.m.
-Independent candidate Jim Schneller will be interviewed at 10 p.m.

The Chester and Montgomerty counties Fraternal Orders of Police endorsed Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race.

"I am truly grateful for the Montgomery and Chester County FOPs' support of my candidacy for Congress," said Meehan in a release. "Throughout my career as a prosecutor, I've had the privilege to work closely with law enforcement personnel from across Southeastern Pennsylvania. I look forward to the opportunity to fight for issues important to first responders in Washington."

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, has criticized his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, for “ghost-voting” during legislative session.

The Meehan campaign raised questions about Lentz after sending a spy to Harrisburg, who observed another legislator cast a vote on Lentz’s behalf at least seven times. “Ghost-voting” is the practice of having another legislator cast a vote on another legislator’s behalf and is technically a violation of House rules.

Lentz admitted that he had other legislators vote for him, but said it was because he was busy working on two other bills. “To the extent I was not in my seat, I was busy working on other things,” he said.

The Meehan campaign said this was another example of broken promises from Lentz, a two-term state legislator. When Lentz ran for office in 2007, he said he wanted to reform the practice of “ghost-voting.”

“This is just another example of Bryan Lentz saying one thing and doing another,” said Bryan Kendro, Meehan campaign manager.

Lentz clarified that the reform he pushed was to stop legislators from voting when they weren’t even in the building. Lentz was in the building on Tuesday – just away from his seat during some votes.

SEPAC, a political action committee made of representatives from multiple chambers of commerce in southeast Pennsylvania, announced today that it endorsed several candidates.

The endorsements include Republicans Pat Meehan, Pat Toomey and Tom Corbett.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey announced raising $3.8 Million in the third quarter Tuesday. The Democrat, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, reported raising $3.2 million.
The quarter spanned July 1 through September 30. The Toomey campaign said in a release it had raised more than $14 million from over 64,000 contributors since he announced his candidacy in April 2009.
Sestak’s campaign noted he had raised more than $5 million since depleting funds in the May primary against incumbent U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.
"I am so appreciative for all the support I have received for my candidacy," said Toomey, a former Congressman, in a release. "As I travel across the state, I meet more and more Pennsylvanians who want to join our campaign in order to bring true change and fiscal sanity to Washington. If I am elected to the U.S. Senate, I intend to do just that."
"We are grateful for the generous support of so many who understand that Joe is the only one in the race who will fight for ordinary Pennsylvanians," said Sestak campaign spokesman Jonathon Dworkin. "It is critical that voters understand the positions of these two candidates – while Joe wants to invest in small business and the middle class, Congressman Toomey believes that Wall Street is the answer to everything. These funds will ensure that we will be able to deliver our message and get out the vote on November 2."
Toomey also continued to hold his lead over Sestak in a Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll released Tuesday.
Toomey leads Sestak by 7 points, 45 percent to 38 percent, in a poll of 577 likely voters conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 4. The poll had 4 point margin of error.

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, launched a web video today that highlights his record as U.S. attorney.

Click below to view the ad.

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, decided he will not attend an upcoming debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Delaware County.

Meehan made the decision last night after a planning session, according to his spokeswoman, Virginia Davis.

Third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller was invited to this debate. Schneller got on the ballot with the help of Democratic activists who circulated his nominating petitions.

Meehan will not debate both Democratic candidate state Rep. Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, and "his running mate Jim Schneller," said Davis.

The campaign for Lentz criticized Meehan and his performance at a debate at the Suburban Jewish Community Center-Bnai Aaron.

"It was clear from the Havertown debate that Pat Meehan lacked a basic grasp of his talking points, let alone the issues," said Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz, in an e-mailed statement. "And it's clear from his decision to pull out of the League of Women Voter's debate that he will continue to hide behind his special interest friends like Americans for Job Security, hoping they can buy the election for him. Unfortunately for Meehan, the voters are smarter than that."

The debate is scheduled for Oct. 14.

Pennsylvania House Republicans blocked state Rep. Bryan Lentz from proposing his license-to-carry legislation as an amendment to another bill on Monday.

Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, said the state House failed to protect Pennsylvanians from violent individuals who abuse a so-called loophole in state law.

Lentz's legislation, House Bill 2536, would have amended current law and prevented Pennsylvania residents who are ineligible for a license-to-carry here from getting a license in another state and then using it in Pennsylvania.

Lentz had plans to present his bill as an amendment to House Bill 40, also known as the “castle doctrine”, which was introduced by state Rep. Scott Perry, R-Cumberland County. Perry’s legislation will allow citizens to use deadly force as a form of protection against an intruder or attacker who breaks into their home or occupied car.

But on Monday, "in a rarely used parliamentary procedure, House Republicans moved to consider (Perry's legislation) without amendment, which precluded Lentz from offering his amendment," states a release from the House Democratic Communications Office.

"I'm all for giving Pennsylvanians the right to protect their families against violent criminals and for keeping intact all the rights afforded under the Second Amendment, but my bill impacts neither," Lentz said in the release. "I'm disappointed the House did not see my bill for what it is -- another way to protect Pennsylvanians from violent individuals who victimize people with firearms they have no right to carry."

The campaign for Republican Pat Meehan announced fundraising figures for the third quarter today in a news release.

The campaign raised $725,000 in the third quarter of 2010, according to a Meehan spokeswoman. The campaign now has about $1.5 million on hand; it has raised $2.3 million since September 2009.

The campaign for Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz did not have its fundraising figures readily available on Monday. A spokesman for Lentz said the campaign won't release its figures until closer to the Oct. 15 filing deadline.

Pat Meehan, the Republican in the 7th Congressional District race, was honored Thursday by the Delaware County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for the work he did to protect children from online predators.

“You get a real sense of accomplishment when you look back and see what this task force has accomplished over the course of the past ten years," said Meehan in a release. “We’ve put some truly despicable people behind bars and helped make the Internet a little safer for the millions of young people who use it every day.

“When we launched the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in 2000, this was largely a new area for law enforcement. We were one of the first ten such programs funded in the United States, bringing together federal, state, and local law enforcement agents in an effort to pursue online predators.”

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, will be proposing that House Bill 2536 gets rolled into another bill during legislative session next week.

Lentz’s bill would amend current law and prevent Pennsylvania residents who are ineligible for a license-to-carry here from getting a license in another state and then using it in Pennsylvania.

Lentz said he plans to propose that his legislation be an amendment to House Bill 40, also known as the “castle doctrine”, which was introduced by state Rep. Scott Perry, R-Cumberland County. Perry’s legislation would allow citizens to use deadly force as a form of protection against an intruder or attacker who breaks into their home or occupied car.

On another note, House Bill 176, also known as the Act to Ban Synthetic Marijuana, was approved this week in a 198-1 vote.

The bill was introduced by state Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-132, of Lehigh County, this summer. The bill has now been sent to the state Senate for consideration.

These synthetic marijuana products, which have been marketed as incense since 2006, have been causing health issues across the country, according to the American Association of Poison Centers. The products are currently sold in gas stations, convenience stores and on the Internet. At least nine other states already passed legislation against these products.

Lentz is a cosponsor of the bill.