Senator Chris Matthews (D-PA)?

Is Hardball host Chris Matthews considering taking a shot at running against Arlen Specter in 2010? New York Sun columnist Seth Gitell comments on the possibility of a Chris Matthews campaign.

A 'Hardball' Senator? Seth Gitell, New York Sun

Rendell's primary campaign work questioned

Ed Rendell's role as a "super staffer" for Hillary 's Pennsylvania campaign has raised questions of his use of state resources for political purposes, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Stephen Miskin, press secretary for GOP House Minority Leader Sam Smith, said Rendell "became the chief fundraiser, the chief strategist, the chief scheduler, the chief political director, the chief surrogate." "It raises very strong ethical questions," said Miskin.

Rendell's spokesman, Chuck Ardo, responded to these claims. "The vast majority of the governor's campaign activity was either very early in the morning, in the evening or on weekends and did not interfere with his full time job," said Ardo. "He merely added hours to a routinely hectic schedule by getting less sleep."

Ardo said, "he flew to campaign events on commercial airlines and paid his own way, and he reimbursed the commonwealth for the use of his office phone to a far greater extent than the charges incurred." "No one got short-changed by this governor's work ethic, and no one needs to be concerned about the misuse of state resources."

On April 2 Time magazine suggested that Rendell requested a memo for the Clinton campaign from a top state staffer.

From Time: "Then comes a call to Sandi Vito, the state's acting secretary of labor. 'Could you do a quick, down-and-dirty memo for me on (the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program) for Mrs. Clinton?' Rendell wants to know. 'On your own time,' he adds. Of course."

Breaking: Hillary Raises $10 Million After PA Victory

From the AP:

"Hillary Rodham Clinton raised $10 million in the 24 hours after winning the Pennsylvania primary, aided by contributions from 80,000 new donors, her campaign said Thursday.

The $10 million came from a total of 100,000 donors, spokesman Mo Elleithee said.

Clinton, who was strapped for cash going into Tuesday's contest against Barack Obama, started making fundraising pleas as soon as the race was called. She told supporters during her nationally televised victory speech to go to her Web site to send money."

Residents in Schuylkill County Disapprove of Massive Cargo Airport

The Pottsville Republican reports that a majority of residents in North and East Union townships do not approve the proposed cargo airport in northern Schuykill County. The airport would also cover parts of Luzerne County south of Hazleton and parts of Carbon County.

A paper ballot poll on Tuesday showed that 162 people oppose the airport, while 59 support the proposed project.

Gladstone Partners is behind the economically and ecologically catastrophic project. Once constructed, the airport would be the size of JFK and Newark airports combined. This means that the seventh largest airport in the world would be located in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

How did Hillary pull it off?

Southwestern and Northeastern Pennsylvania guaranteed Hillary a victory on Tuesday. According to the Scranton Times-Tribune, she had 90,783 votes from the Northeast and 106,062 from suburban Pittsburgh. These votes accounted for 95% of her margin. Of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania, Obama only won Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Dauphin, Lancaster, Centre, and Union counties.

Obama did not dominate in Philadelphia and its suburbs. He lost Bucks County by a 2-1 ratio and Montgomery County by a narrow margin. Overall, he won Philadelphia by 130,000 votes. G. Terry Madonna, a political professor at Franklin and Marshall, said Obama "underperformed in the areas of the state he needed to win."

In the Inquirer today, Thomas Fitzgerald writes that "Obama needed to offset Clinton's strength elsewhere by rolling up big margins in the city and carrying the suburbs - homes to large numbers of the African American, affluent and college-educted Democratic voters who coalesced behind Obama elsewhere."

Ed Rendell attributes Obama's win in Delaware County to its "inner-ring suburbs...(and) significant number of African Americans who voted for a great African-American candidate." Rendell said, "If you're a Democrat in Chester you're a liberal, [or] if anything else a Republican or independent. It has the most liberal of all Democrats."

Obama won in the Main Line communities of Lower Merion, Radnor and Tredyffrin, as well as in Rose Valley and Doylestown. But he lost in the Newtown townships (both the one in Delaware County and the one in Bucks County), and also in Upper and Lower Makefield.

Clinton, meantime, racked up solid majorities in many of the classic, post-World War II suburbs, including Bensalem, Bristol Township, Warminster and Warrington, Upper and Lower Southampton, and Springfield (Delaware County).

In his column today, David Rubin speculates why Obama could have lost Montgomery. Many voters expressed their concern over Obama's stance on Israel. One voter recalled a recent conversation with a woman to Rubin, saying "She was concerned Obama would not protect Israel. I don't know what he could do to assuage that concern, as he has said he would support Israel, is a friend of Israel. I guess it is not enough."

In the Lehigh Valley, meanwhile, Hillary took every city but Easton. Lehigh Valley Democrats gave her 61% of the vote. "2.2 million votes later, small shift for Clinton" The Morning Call.

LIVE BLOGGING

(6:21): EXIT POLL: Clinton 52 Obama 48
(6:22): MSNBC Exit Poll: Clinton 48 Obama 43
(7:12): From Drudge Report:
Women
Clinton 55%
Obama 44

Men
Clinton 47%
Obama 53

Whites
Clinton 60%
Obama 40

Blacks
Clinton 8%
Obama 92

(7:15): From ABC News
"Despite all the down-to-the-wire campaigning, preliminary exit poll results indicate that nearly eight in 10 Pennsylvania voters made up their minds at least a week ago, and six in 10 decided on their candidate more than a month ago -- a higher number of early deciders than the norm in Democratic primaries to date."

(7:51): From the Morning Call:

"Women and older voters came out in force Tuesday in Pennsylvania's presidential primary, encouraging signs for Hillary Rodham Clinton as she sought a win to sustain her campaign.

Both groups have tended to support Clinton in previous states, and she needed their support once again. Pennsylvania was a must-win state for Clinton as she tries to overcome rival Barack Obama's lead in the race.

Should she lose, it would be a fatal blow to her candidacy -- a defeat so unexpected that it would sap her arguments to remain in the race. It would be the dawn of a Democratic era minus the Clintons as the dominant force."

(9:20): HILLARY WINS PENNSYLVANIA
12% Reporting: Clinton 53 Obama 47

(9:32): The Politico provides a state map that reports primary results from each county.

(9:34): Surprise: Obama takes early lead in Allegheny County with 57% against Clinton's 43%.

(10:03): Clinton is now leading in Allegheny 56% to Obama's 44%.

(10:05): Chester and Montgomery Counties still not reporting. Delaware County: Clinton - 52% Obama - 48%; Philadelphia County: Clinton - 39% Obama - 61%; Bucks County: Clinton - 66% Obama - 33%

PA Voter Registration: Key Counties

PHILADELPHIA AREA

Bucks: 12,644 switched to Democrat; 19,713 new Democrats

Chester: 11,526 switched to Democrat; 17,934 new Democrats

Delaware: 13,969 switched to Democrat; 23,247 new Democrats

Montgomery: 18,648 switched to Democrat; 29,717 new Democrats

Philadelphia: 17,183 switched to Democrat; 52,798 new Democrats

PITTSBURGH:

Allegheny County: 13,439 switched to Democrat; 28,451 new Democrats

View entire Pennsylvania voter registration map at the Politico.

KEYSTONE PRIMARY: DECISION DAY

Wire Reports (12:21 AM):

"Clinton Needs Record Margins, Turnout to Catch Obama" Bloomberg

"After more than 40 Democratic primaries and caucuses, Obama, the Illinois senator, leads Clinton by more than 800,000 votes. Even if the New York senator wins by more than 20 percentage points tomorrow -- a landslide few experts expect -- she would still have a hard time catching him.

Clinton needs 'blowout numbers,' says Peter Fenn, a Democratic consultant who isn't affiliated with either campaign. 'The wheels would have to come off the Obama bus, and the engine would have to blow.'"

"Justice Department to Monitor Primary" UPI

"Obama Prepares to spin loss as victory" Politico

NEPA "Counties Expecting High Voter Turnout" Standard-Speaker

"Obama predicts Clinton win in Pennsylvania" Morning Call

STAY TUNED FOR LIVE BLOGGING AND UPDATES

Philly Inquirer restates support for Obama

EDITORIAL: In Support of Barack Obama:

"The Democratic presidential primary Tuesday presents Pennsylvania voters with a choice that is more about style than substance.

On the issues, there's scant difference between Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. The biggest difference comes down to their styles of leadership.

Obama wants to bring about change by inspiring people to accept his vision of social justice. Clinton bills herself as the more competent leader, who knows how to effect change incrementally, due largely to her extensive government experience.

The Inquirer Editorial Board endorsed Obama before New Jersey's primary Feb. 5. Since then, the race has focused less on the subtle distinctions in the candidates' policy proposals and more on personal attacks. Before Pennsylvanians head to the polls, it's time to restate our support for BARACK OBAMA.

The 46-year-old Obama offers the better chance of rising above the partisan rancor in Washington to achieve bipartisan goals. After eight years of George W. Bush's my-way-or-the-highway rule, Obama could become the uniter that Bush never was. His campaign has attracted people of all backgrounds and political persuasions.

Throughout his career as a community organizer and state legislator and senator, Obama has pursued justice for working-class people. The recent charge that he's an elitist doesn't wash, in light of his background and his life's work.
Opponents argue that Obama isn't ready to be president. Compared with Clinton and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama has the least amount of Washington experience. But that is likely one reason he's winning over so many voters. People crave change.

And Obama has demonstrated the resilience to bounce back from challenges in this long campaign. His speech in Philadelphia on race relations quelled the immediate political furor over his former pastor's anti-white rhetoric.
But Obama's address did more than serve his own political needs. It called on blacks and whites to consider each other's legitimate motives, and to move beyond conflicting perspectives. Turning a tempest into an opportunity for national reflection and action is a sign of leadership.

Unfortunately, Obama followed up that memorable speech with a gaffe about "bitter" small-town Pennsylvanians clinging to religion and guns. He still hasn't explained adequately what he really meant. For someone whose eloquence usually seems effortless, it was an unforced blunder that may have cost him the chance to put away Clinton here and now.

Clinton, 60, like Obama, wants to end the war in Iraq as soon as possible. Her plan for universal health care would mandate coverage for everyone; his plan doesn't go quite that far. But the policy differences between them are few. For example, both aim to roll back the Bush tax cuts for top wage-earners.

A second Clinton presidency could be as polarizing as the first one. She hasn't displayed often enough an ability to connect with voters. And her infamous Bosnia-sniper story, while overblown, did highlight the public's mistrust of her truthfulness.

Republican voters - those who haven't switched parties this spring - will find three names on the presidential ballot. But the GOP race is effectively over. JOHN McCAIN, 71, who received our endorsement in January, is the presumptive nominee. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas abandoned his effort weeks ago, and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is carrying on his obscure campaign for reasons known chiefly to him."

Last week, the Allentown Morning Call, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the Harrisburg Patriot-News endorsed Obama.

Pennsylvania primary won't sway superdelegates

USA Today reports that dozens of uncommitted superdelegates say Pennsylvania's primary will not be the decisive factor in choosing between Hillary and Barack. These superdelegates told the paper they will choose by July 1, a deadline proposed by DNC Chairman Howard Dean.

Yesterday, Dean told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he needs an immediate decision from uncommitted superdelegates. “I need them to say who they’re for starting now," said the DNC Chairman. “We cannot give up two or three months of active campaigning and healing time," said Dean. "We’ve got to know who our nominee is.”

USA Today estimates that 250 of the 800 superdelegates remain undecided. Dean told Blitzer that approximately 65% of superdelegates have made their preference but 300 have not yet made up their minds.

According to the Politico, "If, as Hillary Rodham Clinton has suggested, her campaign takes the fight to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations all the way to the Democratic National Convention this summer, the fate of her challenge is all but certain to hinge on 25 individuals appointed to the Credentials Committee by party Chairman Howard Dean. "

The Credentials Committee consists of the 186 members who will determine whether to seat Florida and Michigan.

Primary Schedule

Link to New York Times schedule for remaining primaries.

Latest Poll Numbers

Pennsylvania Poll Numbers:

Zogby
45 Clinton
44 Obama
Clinton +1.0

Rasmussen
50 Clinton
41 Obama
Clinton +9.0

SurveyUSA
54 Clinton
40 Obama
Clinton +14.0

LA Times/Bloomberg
46 Clinton
41 Obama
Clinton +5.0

Quinnipiac
50 Clinton

44 Obama
Clinton +6.0

Franklin & Marshall
49 Clinton

42 Obama

Clinton +7.0

Keyes announces presidential bid in Hazleton

Alan Keyes announced his intentions to run for President in Hazleton. Keyes, a former Republican presidential candidate, is considering becoming the Constitution Party's candidate in the 2008 election. Keyes chose Hazleton, which is the epicenter of the immigration debate, because the country's "border issue" is a "threat to the sovereignty to the American people." Keyes cites the GOP's failure to address immigration as his reason for leaving the party.

"Keyes leaves GOP, looks at Constitution Party" USA Today

Wecht Trial Update

From Paul Kiel at TPMMuckraker:

"In an open letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey and U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan today, more than two dozen Pennsylvania public figures urged that the Justice Department "reconsider the publicly announced decision to re-try De. Cryil Wecht." You can see the letter here.

Among the signers are Melissa Hart, a former Republican congresswoman who lost reelection in 2006, Jerry Johnson, the U.S. Attorney for Pittsburgh during the Reagan administration, and both the former and current chair of the Republican Party in Allegheny County. The signers also include a number of members of the Allegheny county council and the Democratic former mayor of Pittsburgh, Tom Murphy. The Wecht case is based on allegations that Wecht misused county resources while serving as coroner there.

Given that the jury hung in the first trial and jurors have told the media that most of them had agreed on acquittal, the signers agree that a second trial "would certainly not be in the interest of justice."

It's just the latest bit of pressure put on prosecutors. Reps. John Conyers (D-MI) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) have already expressed their concern that prosecutors used FBI agents to contact jurors who served on the case. Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, a Republican, also criticized that decision. And that's on top of the scrutiny the case has had for months."

Reviews of last night's awful debate

The media is in uproar over ABC's debate between Hillary and Barack. Jason Linkins, of the Huffington Post, said "there were times when tonight's debate ventured into territory so utterly asinine that I could scarcely believe what I was witnessing." The Washington Post's Tom Shales said Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos "turned in shoody, despicable performances."

For the first 52 minutes of the two-hour, commercial-crammed show, Gibson and Stephanopoulos dwelled entirely on specious and gossipy trivia that already has been hashed and rehashed, in the hope of getting the candidates to claw at one another over disputes that are no longer news. Some were barely news to begin with.

Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton aide, and Gibson were obviously biased against Obama. From Shales:

To this observer, ABC's coverage seemed slanted against Obama. The director cut several times to reaction shots of such Clinton supporters as her daughter, Chelsea, who sat in the audience at the Kimmel Theater in Philly's National Constitution Center. Obama supporters did not get equal screen time, giving the impression that there weren't any in the hall. The director also clumsily chose to pan the audience at the very start of the debate, when the candidates made their opening statements, so Obama and Clinton were barely seen before the first commercial break.

Ed Rendell's off the record comments after the debate are a tribute to the moderators' bias:
From Chris Bowers of Open Left:

I went to the spin room after the debate, looking for someone from ABC in order to ask them about the questions in the first half of the debate. Unfortunately, in the spin room, a vortex of discourse was eating its own tail as the signifier drowned the signified in a rusty bathtub in the corner, so I fled out of a deep sense of existential horror. As I was walking back to the filing center, I passed Governor Ed Rendell just as he was finishing an interview. Afterwards, appearing very happy, he said the following to someone standing next to him, revealing not only what he thought of the debate, but also of the early questions at the debate:

"Even an Obama Kool-Aid drinking guy like yourself has to admit she scored a decisive victory tonight. A decisive victory. A knockout blow. A decisive victory. A decisive victory. Even more decisive when they started asking real questions."

Calling it a "gotcha debate," Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation, said the news commentators' questions made her "angry, frustrated and, yes, bitter." From vanden Heuvel:

Tonight, Gibson seemed shocked when the two candidates spoke of raising taxes on the very richest in this country. He seemed far more concerned about the Democratic candidates' proposal to raise the capital gains tax--and what he claimed would be the lost revenue-- than the fact, as the New York Times's Steven Greenhouse reports in his new must-read book, The Big Squeeze, that "since 1979, hourly earnings for 80 percent of American workers have risen by just 1, after inflation...[at a time when]the nation's economic pie is growing, but corporations by and large have not given their workers a bigger piece."

Wecht Trail: Judge refuses to step aside

U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab refused to recuse himself from the case against Dr. Cyril Wecht after pressure from defense attorneys. Schwab declared a mistrial when the jury deadlocked and failed to deliver a verdict on April 8. The retrial is scheduled for May 27.

Wecht's attorneys forwarded a letter from 33 prominent Western Pennsylvanians to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey. The letter asked Mukasey to intervene in the trail and dismiss the charges against the nationally recognized pathologist.

In response, Schwab accused Wecht's attorneys of "repeated and improper attempts at judge-shopping and disruption of the proceedings."

Wecht, the former Allegheny County coroner, is charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, and misusing his staff to benefit his private practice. He is also charged with trading unclaimed county morgue cadavers for office space at Carlow University.

"Wecht judge says he won't step aside" Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Pottsville Republican: Great Maroons Debate on Friday

On Friday, David Fleming, of ESPN magazine, and Joe Horrigan will debate whether the NFL should give the Pottsville Maroons its 1925 championship. Fleming wrote a book last year about the legendary team. The Breaker Boys was optioned by Sentinel Entertainment in 2006. Gavin O'Connor, the director of Disney's "Miracle," is set to direct the film.

"Lasting Legacy discusses debate details, Maroons effort" Stephen J. Pytak

Hillary launches attack ad against Obama

Hillary Clinton's campaign aired an ad tonight in Pennsylvania that attacks Obama for his comments at a San Francisco fundraising reception. The ad can be viewed from the Politico. Here is the script from the 30-second ad:

Clinton: “I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.”

Announcer: “Barack Obama said that people in small towns ‘cling to guns or religion … as a way to explain their frustrations.’”

Woman 1: “I was very insulted by Barack Obama.” Man 1: “It just shows how out of touch Barack Obama is.”

Woman 2: “I'm not clinging to my faith out of frustration and bitterness. I find that my faith is very uplifting.”

Man 2: “The good people of Pennsylvania deserve a lot better than what Barack Obama said.”

Woman 1: “Hillary does understand the citizens of Pennsylvania better.”

Woman 3: “Hillary Clinton has been fighting for people like us her whole life.”

Latest Poll Numbers

Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama 57% to 37% in Pennsylvania. Last week, the American Research Group's poll found Clinton and Obama in a tie. Despite Obama's numbers coming out of Pennsylvania, he continues to lead nationally. A Gallup poll today finds Obama leading Clinton 50% to 40%.

UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal's Carl Bialik questions the accuracy of ARG's poll numbers.

"But there are reasons to question ARG polling numbers. In a polling report card of 2008 primary accuracy issued by a rival survey company, ARG ranked in the bottom half of more than three dozen polling firms, among 2008 primaries through late February. It also ranked near the bottom in another ranking of pollster accuracy at fivethirtyeight.com, a Web site that tracks the Electoral College. And, as I wrote last month, the widely tracked polling averages at the political Web site Real Clear Politics don’t include ARG numbers, because of concerns about transparency. Like they’ve been in Pennsylvania, ARG polls also were volatile in previous primaries, notably in Wisconsin, which saw a 16-point swing in just two days."

Luzerne County Commisioners Petrilla and Skrepenak split

The Times Leader reports today that Democratic Luzerne County commissioners Maryanne Petrilla and Greg Skrepenak have ended their political ties. The $110,000 in the Friends of Skrepenak and Petrilla committee fund has been equally split and transferred into their individual campaign committees.

Skrepenak told the Times Leader that Petrilla "wants to be a dictator. She wants to tell people what to do."

"He said he's bitter because he supported Petrilla's 2005 run for county controller and chose her to be his Democratic commissioner teammate last year. Skrepenak said Petrilla never raised concerns about his tenure until after she was elected commissioner.

'Where was Maryanne Petrilla for two years as a controller? She didn't say anything to me. For two years she sat back and said nothing,' Skrepenak said. 'I'm tired of being the one taking the blame for everything.'

He homed in on questionable debit-card spending, saying Petrilla should have received more heat for not detecting it as controller. The office had access to computerized financial records, and money to pay the bills was deducted from specific accounts, he said.

'If money was taken out, her office should have been asking, 'Where are the receipts?' Skrepenak said. 'The only reason I didn't bring this up back then is because she was my teammate, and I wanted to get us both elected.'"

Why should Skrepenak grow tired of taking the blame? He is involved in the debit-card scandal. Petrilla should not be crticized for failing to detect the debit-card spending as county controller. County Manager/Chief Clerk Sam Guesto, an ally of Skrepenak, acknowledged last October that he violated the debit-card policy by not sending receipts and documentation to Petrilla. As the Times Leader reported today, "Petrilla has said the administration intentionally circumvented the controller's office by deducting debit-card payments without presenting receipts and payment requests to the controller's office."

Skrepenak did not want the controller's office to ask for the debit-card receipts. Last December, Skrepenak disclosed that he used his county debit card to make unallowable purchases. He used the card to pay hotel charges in York for his three children.

Time Line: Petrilla and Skrepenak history, The Citizens Voice

"Skrep calls Petrilla a 'dictator'" Times Leader

Latest Poll: Clinton and Obama tied

From the American Research Group:

April 6, 2008 - Pennsylvania Democratic Primary Preference
Pennsylvania Democrats

April 5-6

Clinton 45%
Obama 45%

"Barack Obama leads Hillary Clinton 53% to 36% among men (46% of likely Democratic primary voters). Among women, Clinton leads 52% to 39%.

Clinton leads 52% to 36% among white voters (80% of likely Democratic primary voters). Obama leads 89% to 9% among African American voters (16% of likely Democratic primary voters).

"Obama leads 52% to 38% among voters age 18 to 49 (52% of likely Democratic primary voters) and Clinton leads 52% to 38% among voters age 50 and older.
27% of all likely Democratic primary voters and 41% of likely Democratic primary voters age 18 to 49 say they would never vote for Hillary Clinton in the primary and 25% of likely Democratic primary voters say they would never vote for Barack Obama in the primary."

Margaret Carlson trashes Pennsylvania

In the lead up to the primary, the national news media has flocked to Pennsylvania and continues to analyze its residents ad nauseam. Many residents cringe when they hear reporters inaccurately portray their state. Politicos are not paying compliments to Pennsylvanians when they quote Jim Carville over and over again: "Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between."

This past weekend, Margaret Carlson, of Bloomberg News, seemed to encapsulate the inaccuracy of reporters' portrayals of the state. In her column, Carlson critiques Obama for his failure to connect with the average Pennsylvanian voter. In a bombastic and offensive fashion, Carlson makes Pennsylvania look like a state without any dignity or sophistication.

Carlson, a native of Camp Hill, notes that she "grew up in that swath of the Keystone State between Pittsburgh and the eastern seaboard that remains happily stuck in the 1950s, when men were men and the steel mills thrived." "When I return there," writes Carlson, "I raise eyebrows for driving a foreign car and having gone to law school without signing on with the FBI."

Come on, Margaret. Camp Hill is an affluent area with a highly educated populace. People do not raise eyebrows because you are driving a foreign car. Her embarrasing and relentless commentary on Pennsylvania continues:

"In many places, the daughers and sons of...families look back and think their parents were hopelessly hokey, if not chumps. But not in Harrisburg, the town that Starbucks forgot until recently. Like upstate New York, where the blue-haired ladies also had to cope with disappearing jobs and hound dog husbands."

First off Margaret, there are six Starbucks in the Harrisburg area. She fails to acknowledge how Harrisburg is becoming a model city for other municipalities in Pennsylvania. The Reading Eagle reported last year that, "Harrisburg, thanks in large part to Restaurant Row, is enjoying a renaissance. Other cities around Pennsylvania are trying, with mixed success, to duplicate its formula of drawing people downtown with new restaurants and bars."

Despite her outrageously inaccurate portrayal of the area, Margaret Carlson claims that she visits her home very often. Perhaps she should get out of her foreign car next time.

Margaret Carlson, "Obama throws a gutter ball."

Time: Can Ed Rendell Deliver for Clinton?

"Can Ed Rendell Deliver for Clinton?" Karen Tumulty, Time

Dowd: On PA campaign trail, Obama needs to become more macho than Hillary

Maureen Dowd, NY Times:

"Obama has been less adept at absorbing the lesson of Hillary’s metamorphosis from entitled queen of the party to scrappy blue-collar mama. His strenuous and inadvertently hilarious efforts to woo working-class folk in Pennsylvania have only made him seem more effete. Keeping his tie firmly in place, he genteelly sipped his pint of Yuengling beer at Sharky’s sports cafe in Latrobe and bowled badly in Altoona. Challenging Obama to a bowl-off, Hillary kindly offered to 'spot him two frames.'

At the Wilbur chocolate shop in Lititz Monday, he spent most of his time skittering away from chocolate goodies, as though he were a starlet obsessing on a svelte waistline.'Oh, now,' the woman managing the shop told him with a frown, 'you don’t worry about calories in a chocolate factory.'

The Times’s Michael Powell reports that, after watching five plump, white-haired women in plastic hairnets spin the chocolate into such confections as 'Phantom of the Opera' masks and pink high heels, he ventured: “Do you actually eat the chocolate or do you get sick of it?” They giggled at his silliness.

He looked even more concerned when he was offered a chocolate cake with white chocolate frosting. 'Oh, man.' he said. 'That’s too decadent for me.'

One of the most valuable lessons the gritty Hillary can teach the languid Obama — and the timid Democrats — is that the whole point of a presidential race is to win."

"The Hillary Waltz" - Maureen Dowd, NY Times

Ravenstahl backs Pittsburgh-Allegheny County merger

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl endorsed the idea of merging the city and Allegheny County. Today, Ravenstahl unveiled a report on governmental cooperation with county Chief Executive Dan Onorato and University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg.

"Ravenstahl endorses Pittsburgh-Allegheny County merger" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hillary Compares Herself to Rocky

"Clinton likens herself to Rocky, says she won't quit." Allentown Morning Call

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-clinton0401-cnap,0,1728117.story

Keith Olbermann proclaims Rendell "Worst Person in the World"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEb0njdbsOg