tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59682983458864556942024-03-07T20:04:15.938-08:00Campaign '10Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-63701138674321568792010-11-02T21:42:00.000-07:002010-11-02T21:42:14.728-07:00Toomey winsThe associated press has called the U.S. Senate race for Pat Toomey. Read tomorrow's Daily Times for a story from the crestfallen Sestak camp.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-29135570257841885542010-11-02T21:00:00.000-07:002010-11-02T21:00:29.640-07:00Latest numbers in the 7thAs of 11: 55 p.m. Tuesday, here are more recent numbers from the 7th: <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Early ballot results for Delaware County showed that Meehan had 94,111 votes; Lentz had 77,829 votes; Schneller had 1,734 votes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Early ballot results for Chester County showed that Meehan had 20,466 votes; Lentz had 12,502 votes; Schneller had 381 votes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Early ballot results for Montgomery County showed that Meehan had 18,569 votes; Lentz had 15,883 votes; and Schneller had 520 votes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All election results are unofficial until certified by the Boards of Election in each county.</span></div>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-3449034961244717382010-11-02T20:40:00.000-07:002010-11-02T20:40:05.499-07:00Meehan takes lead in 7th<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Republican Pat Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney, took the lead in the hotly-contested 7<sup>th</sup> Congressional District race late Tuesday night, according to the unofficial election results. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Thank you. Thank you so much,” said Meehan while looking out into a crowd at the Springfield Country Club. “What a wonderful evening, what a wonderful victory.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“This win belongs to you,” said Meehan to his supporters. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meehan, a Drexel Hill resident, said he received a “gracious” call from his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore. Meehan said he respected Lentz, a former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and Iraq War veteran, for his service to this country. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m very grateful for (Lentz’s) very dignified call this evening,” Meehan said, adding that they shared the same hopes for improving this country. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meehan, Lentz<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller fought for the seat left open by U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, who ran for U.S. Senate against former U.S. Congressman Pat Toomey, a Republican from Zionsville. The 7<sup>th</sup> Congressional District race consists mainly of Delaware County and parts of Chester and Montgomery counties. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Early ballot results for Delaware County showed that Meehan had 92,635 votes; Lentz had 76, 625 votes; Schneller had 1,711 votes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Early ballot results for Chester County showed that Meehan had 11,832 votes; Lentz had 6,638 votes; Schneller had 200 votes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Early ballot results for Montgomery County showed that Meehan had 14,381 votes; Lentz had 12,356 votes; and Schneller had 395 votes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All election results are unofficial until certified by the Boards of Election in each county.</span></div></span>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-72407637408080490542010-11-02T20:03:00.000-07:002010-11-02T20:16:03.584-07:00Toomey now in the leadRepublican U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey continues to strecth his lead over Democrat Joseph Sestak in unofficial returns.<br />
With almost 91 percent of precincts reporting, Toomey had a 32,000 vote lead, picking up a full percentage point, 50.5 to 49.5 over Sestak.<br />
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UPDATE, 11:12:<br />
With 93.3 percent reporting, Toomey now has 36,000 votes over Sestak.<br />
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UPDATE, 11:14:<br />
95.5 percent of the vote is in and Toomey has a nearly 50,000 vote lead. He is pulling ahead 50.7 percent to Sestak's 49.3 percent.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-50312308871607596222010-11-02T17:54:00.000-07:002010-11-02T19:54:03.280-07:00Sestak surges earlyWith only about 8 percent of the vote in, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, has taken an early 83k to 44k lead over Republican Pat Toomey for the Pa. Senate seat of Arlen Specter<br />
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UPDATE, 9:10:<br />
Toomey is closing the gap as more machines report in. Now 295k to 195k with 21 percent of the votes in,<br />
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UPDATE, 9:38:<br />
41 percent in and Sestak continues to lead 54-46<br />
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UPDATE, 9:42<br />
Toomey starting the narrow the gap, Sestak still up 53-47<br />
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UPDATE 10:10<br />
Almost 70 percent of the vote in and the numbers are still holding in Sestak's favor, 51.7 to 48.4. People at the Radnor Hotel, where Sestak is watching the returns in a room upstairs, are starting to pull their hair out and yell, "What have we done?!"<br />
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UPDATE, 10:17<br />
The gap has narrowed with almost 75 percent in. Sestak is now only leading by 64k votes.<br />
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UPDATE, 10:30<br />
Toomey has narrowed it to within half a percentage point with 82 percent of machine reporting statewide. Sestak leads 50.2 to 49.8 percent.<br />
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UPDATE, 10:34:<br />
Toomey takes the lead for the first time, 51.1 percent to 49.9 percent. The mood here has suddenly soured perceptibly.<br />
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UPDATE, 10:40<br />
Toomey stretches his lead to 14,000 with 85 percent of machines reporting.<br />
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UPDATE, 10:52:<br />
<br />
Toomey continues to lead 50.3 to 49.7 percent with nearly 90 percent of machines reporting. He's now up 19,000 votes.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-81152711934396635072010-11-02T16:08:00.000-07:002010-11-02T16:08:03.284-07:00Lentz: Make your voices heard<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By DANIELLE LYNCH</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="mailto:dlynch@delcotimes.com"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dlynch@delcotimes.com</span></a></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">RIDLEY – With less than an hour left before the polls close, Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7<sup>th</sup> Congressional District race, continues to greet voters and encourage them to vote.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I feel good about my campaign,” said Lentz, a two-term state representative. “I think I ran on important issues.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lentz said he has hosted over 100 public events and his team has knocked on thousands of doors. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If Lentz loses, he said he plans to spend a lot of time with his family and practice law. Similar to his Republican opponent, Pat Meehan, Lentz said it’s too early to say whether he’d run again in 2012. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Everyone should vote,” said Lentz, while standing outside a poll at Woodlyn Elementary School just before 7 p.m. “It shouldn’t be about individual candidates winning or losing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Everyone should participate and make their voices heard about the direction of the country.” </span></div>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-34330277246501373742010-11-02T14:48:00.000-07:002010-11-02T14:48:08.850-07:00Meehan encourages district residents to hit the polls<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">By DANIELLE LYNCH</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><a href="mailto:dlynch@delcotimes.com"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dlynch@delcotimes.com</span></a></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">CONCORD – With less than three hours before the polls close, Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7<sup>th</sup> Congressional District race, recently stopped at a phone-banking event at the Concordville Inn.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Three more hours and we’re pushing to the end,” said Meehan at about 5 p.m. “So many of you have been working on this for months. I just want to express to each and every one of you my deep gratitude.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In an interview after his talk to the phone- banking group, Meehan said he was pleased with the work his campaign has done the past year. He said the campaign has been an “extension of people’s frustration with what is going on in Washington D.C.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If he loses, Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney, said he will continue to work as a partner at a “top boutique law firm” in Philadelphia. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But that’s not an issue I intend to deal with,” he said. “I expect to come home virtuous.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today, Meehan spent time at polls throughout the 7<sup>th</sup> Congressional District, which consists mainly of Delaware County and portions of Chester and Montgomery counties.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Meehan said he has a genuine appreciation for the people who have given their time to work on his campaign and make phone calls. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I hope they see a part of themselves in me,” he said. “Their efforts are a part of my fortunes.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With less than three hours to go, Meehan encouraged people to hit the polls. “It’s your final opportunity to have your voice heard,” he said. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I will bring a fresh, independent voice to Washington,” he said. “I will fight for jobs and fight for a strong, predictable economy. We have to get Americans back to work so we can regain our unquestioned position as the greatest country in the world.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Meehan is running against Democratic candidate state Rep. Bryan Lentz and third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lynch will be meeting up with Lentz soon, so check back for updates. </i></span></div>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-53115200811140057292010-11-02T06:04:00.000-07:002010-11-02T06:04:39.787-07:00The exitAt 8:59 a.m., U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, has left the building. After 47 minutes of shaking hands, hugging and repeating, "I am Joe Sestak," the U.S. Senatorial candidate has exited the 69th Street terminal in Upper Darby for the rest of his schedule.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-59711655695956036092010-11-02T05:40:00.000-07:002010-11-02T05:40:00.129-07:00International flavorAt 8:26 a.m., the BBC arrived at 69th Street terminal to capture U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont in action in his fight for U.S. Senate as the candidate introduces himself to hundreds of commuters.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-90563018211098220392010-11-02T05:35:00.000-07:002010-11-02T05:35:02.719-07:00Another sideAfter setting down his Venti Starbucks coffee to begin erecting a red tent outside the Edgmont municipal building under moonlight at 6:19 a.m., township supervisor Joseph Conan had his view on the campaign of U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont for U.S. Senate.<br />
"He even sent someone here to coral the press," he said. "He came in like a banshee, 'I'm here to corral the press.'"Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-4409140232125713402010-11-02T05:07:00.000-07:002010-11-02T05:07:41.940-07:00BelleJonathon Dworkin, the spokesman for U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, said Belle probably wouldn't be making a campaign stop today for the Democratic Senatorial candidate.<br />
"She stays with Alex," he said of Sestak's daughter. "If Alex won't be here, Belle won't be here."Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-339569626867091562010-11-02T05:01:00.000-07:002010-11-02T05:01:18.461-07:00Sestak's first stopAs he makes his campaign rounds today, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak is on his way to his first campaign stop of the day - 69th Street terminal in Upper Darby.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-8593941989625860342010-11-02T04:15:00.000-07:002010-11-02T04:15:02.011-07:00Joe Sestak votesAt 7:03 a.m., as the sun barely peeked over the horizon, U.S. Joe Sestak cast his vote after the Democratic Senatorial candiate waited with a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee as the fourth in line.<br />
Emerging from the Edgmont Township municipal building conference room with a gigantic grin, Sestak proclaimed, "It's going to be a great day."Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-53367577087411975422010-11-01T09:26:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:26:07.308-07:00Final polls: Toomey still aheadNew polling over the weekend showed GOP U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey continued to lead his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, in the final days of the election cycle.<br />
A Public Policy Polling survey of 772 likely voters conducted October 30 and 31 with a 3.5 point margin of error put Toomey up 51 percent to Sestak’s 46 percent with 4 percent still undecided.<br />
Toomey was viewed favorably by 45 percent and unfavorably by 40 percent, with 14 percent unsure. Sestak was viewed unfavorably by 43 percent and favorably by 39 percent, with 18 percent unsure.<br />
The data showed voters are generally unhappy with Democrats in office. President Barack Obama received an approval rating of 40 percent with 54 percent saying they disapprove of his job performance. Outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell had an approval rating of 34 percent, with 53 percent disapproving.<br />
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, the man Toomey and Sestak are vying to replace, received only a 29 percent approval rating with 60 percent saying they disapprove.<br />
Slightly more Democrats than Republicans participated in this poll, at 46 percent to 44 percent, with 10 percent identifying themselves as independent voters.<br />
Eighteen percent called themselves “liberal,” while 43 percent said they were “moderate” and 39 percent said they were “conservative.”<br />
A release accompanying the Public Policy data found an inordinate number of Democrats are unhappy the president’s performance and plan to vote for Toomey by a 68-23 margin.<br />
That Democratic dissatisfaction coupled with a highly unified Republican Party and independents falling even all adds up to a GOP win Tuesday.<br />
The final Muhlenberg College/Morning Call daily tracking poll also put Toomey ahead 48 percent to 44 percent with 9 percent undecided.<br />
Toomey’s lead had shrunk to 2 points in the two Muhlenberg polls released over the weekend, but grew again in the poll released Monday.<br />
The poll of 474 likely voters was conducted October 28-31 and had a 4.5 point margin of error.<br />
Toomey’s favorability rating was split evenly at 37 percent, with 27 percent neutral or having no opinion. Sestak was viewed positively by 36 percent and negatively by 32 percent, with 31 percent unsure or neutral.<br />
Forty-eight percent of respondents in the Muhlenberg survey were Democrats and 46 percent were Republicans, with seven percent independent.<br />
Quinnipiac University released another new poll Monday showing Toomey with a 50 percent to 45 percent lead and 5 percent undecided.<br />
In that poll, conducted October 25-30 among 1,244 likely voters with a 2.8 point margin of error, independents were the deciding factor for a GOP victory, with Toomey leading Sestak 52 percent to 39 percent in that bloc.<br />
The Quinnipiac poll also found 13 percent of those who named a candidate might change their mind on election day.<br />
Toomey was well liked in the Quinnipiac survey, with a favorable/unfavorable ratio of 47 percent to 32 percent and 19 percent with no opinion. Sestak was evenly split at 40 percent, with 18 percent saying they had not heard enough about him to form an opinion.<br />
Both candidates started early Monday to get in a few last minute public appearances and rallies. <br />
Toomey was scheduled to start in Philadelphia, hitting Pittston, Camp Hill, Johnstown, Erie, Corapolis and wrapping up in Bethlehem.<br />
Sestak planned to stay closer to his base in the southeastern part of the state, traveling around Philadelphia, Ardmore and Upper Darby before closing at a Philadelphia rally with First Lady Michelle Obama.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-47773842384341134732010-10-29T13:54:00.001-07:002010-10-29T13:54:46.702-07:00Toomey still up in pollsRepublican 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.<br />
Toomey now leads Sestak 50 percent to 46 percent, with one percent preferring another candidate and 3 percent undecided.<br />
The survey of 750 likely voters was conducted on October 28, and has a 4 point margin of error. <br />
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. <br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-5530268490307341642010-10-29T13:51:00.000-07:002010-10-29T13:51:30.121-07:00Toomey gets backing of local firefightersRepublican 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.<br />
“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."<br />
“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.”Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-58703692171484769612010-10-28T10:55:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:56:16.281-07:00Sierra Club leader to meet with LentzCarl Pope, chairman of the Sierra Club, will join Democratic candidate Bryan Lentz for a discussion about clean energy and job creation. <br />
<br />
The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Lentz campaign office in Springfield.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-3970097002411788182010-10-28T09:32:00.000-07:002010-10-28T09:32:40.656-07:00Delco police chiefs endorse Meehan<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pat Meehan, the Republican in the 7th Congressional District race, was endorsed by 19 police chiefs today. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="PreviewMsgText visualIEFloatFix" id="ucPreviewMsg_lblMessage"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0px;"><span>"I am honored to receive the endorsement of my law enforcement colleagues," said Meehan in a release. <span></span>"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.<span> </span>I look forward to building on the numerous partnerships and initiatives we created and continue my efforts to keep our streets safe."</span></span></span></span></div>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-57610582471764910532010-10-28T09:08:00.000-07:002010-10-28T09:08:02.305-07:00More of the same for Toomey in Muhlenberg pollWelcome to Thursday, same as Tuesday.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
Toomey was viewed favorably by 39 percent and unfavorably by 37 percent, with 23 percent neutral or unsure.<br />
Sestak was viewed unfavorably by 41 percent and favorably by 35 percent. Another 23 percent had no opinion of the Democrat.<br />
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.<br />
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.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-87025413030308566752010-10-28T08:25:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:25:50.742-07:00County GOP requests investigation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">By DANIELLE LYNCH</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="mailto:dlynch@delcotimes.com"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dlynch@delcotimes.com</span></a></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">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. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">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 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily Times’</i> editorial board. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Lentz and Schneller are running against Republican Pat Meehan, a former <country-region w:st="on">U.S.</country-region> attorney and <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Delaware</placename> <placetype w:st="on">County</placetype></place> district attorney, in the 7<sup>th</sup> Congressional District race. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“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.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">In particular, Reilly pointed to a $100 cash payment to Kristen Kepics, a notary who notarized several of Schneller’s petition papers. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Schneller said he paid the notary and argued that he reported it to the commission in a lump sum. He also described the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">county</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Republicans</placename></place>’ complaint as “baseless,” and he said the candidates should instead focus on issues facing voters. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">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. </div>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-31517162783211074182010-10-27T14:03:00.000-07:002010-10-27T14:03:31.690-07:00Lentz receives endorsement<span style="font-family: inherit;">PennEnvironment, a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, announced Wednesday that it endorsed Bryan Lentz, the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="PreviewMsgText visualIEFloatFix"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>"As a state representative, Bryan Lentz has been one of the strongest champions for our environment in </span><city><place><span>Harrisburg</span></place></city><span>," said PennEnvironment Director </span><personname><span>David Masur in a release. "B</span></personname><city><place><span>ryan</span></place></city><span> 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."</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="PreviewMsgText visualIEFloatFix"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The organization also endorsed <span class="PreviewMsgText visualIEFloatFix" id="ucPreviewMsg_lblMessage"><span>Joe <span class="SpellE">Sestak</span> for U.S. Senate; Dan <span class="SpellE">Onorato</span> for governor; and Walt Waite for state House. </span></span></span></span></span>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-76828084427245878472010-10-27T13:31:00.000-07:002010-10-27T13:31:43.903-07:00Senate candidates put out new adsRepublican Senate candidate Pat Toomey and Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, put out some new ads Wednesday.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN-L3tJhgKQ">Sestak’s</a> is a radio spot featuring former President Bill Clinton, who talks up the Democrats 31-year service in the U.S. Navy. <br />
<a href="http://www.toomeyforsenate.com/blog/why-are-democrats-supporting-pat-toomey">Toomey’s</a> is a Web-based ad focused on longtime Democrats who say they plan to vote Republican this year.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-58892025038711612222010-10-27T12:17:00.001-07:002010-10-27T12:17:53.469-07:00Biden stumps for Lentz (UPDATED)By DANIELLE LYNCH<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="mailto:dlynch@delcotimes.com"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dlynch@delcotimes.com</span></a></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">RADNOR – Vice President Joe Biden called on <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Delaware</placename> <placetype w:st="on">County</placetype></place> residents to support the Democratic candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, saying Bryan Lentz would fight for the middle class.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“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.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Biden urged voters to support Lentz because he will fight for the middle class. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“The middle class is hurting – it’s hurting badly,” said Biden.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">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 <country-region w:st="on">U.S.</country-region> attorney and <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Delaware</placename> <placetype w:st="on">County</placetype></place> 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. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’ve shown up,” said Lentz. “I can’t say the same for my opponent. … I know what’s on your mind.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Biden said the failed policies of the Bush administration caused the economic crisis. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“The press thinks people are angry and they’re angry at (the Democrats),” Biden said. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Instead, Biden said, people are angry as a result of the “bankrupt policies” of the Bush Administration. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“They have every reason to be angry,” said Biden. “I’m angry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Biden described Lentz as a man with impeccable integrity. “Public service runs in his blood,” Biden said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before Biden took the stage, several Democratic officials said they supported Lentz and criticized Meehan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’d vote for <city w:st="on">Bryan</city> even if I was running against him,” said state Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, of <place w:st="on">Upper Merion</place>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;">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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">“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 <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Washington</place></state>,” 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.” </span></span></div>Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-82577531600757764162010-10-27T12:01:00.001-07:002010-10-27T12:01:35.840-07:00Return of the Prez.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.<br />
The Philadelphia canvass kickoff event begins at 10 a.m. at the Student Pavallion at Temple University, 1901 N. 15th St.<br />
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/<br />
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. <br />
Bridgeport, Conn., Chicago, Ill. and Cleveland, Ohio are on the schedule for additional rallies.<br />
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.Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968298345886455694.post-90957561796711710712010-10-27T11:47:00.000-07:002010-10-27T11:47:15.263-07:00Soooo...who's winning what where?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.<br />
Wait. Now Toomey’s ahead by 8 points.<br />
No, hold on. Six points.<br />
Oops, looks like it’s neck and neck again…<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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. <br />
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.<br />
Toomey and Sestak were also tied in Muhlenberg surveys released October 21 and 22, but the Republican has led in the last five findings.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
Sestak was leading among those who labeled themselves liberal or moderate, while Toomey secured male voters and all age groups.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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. Daily Times Campaign Deskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07272198912326807861noreply@blogger.com0