Pennsylvania 2014 Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

So anything new on Kane's scandal, or has that died down some?

Still getting pressured - http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news&id=254125771

[J. J.]

The underlying issue is still well in the news as well:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/pa_lawmakers_call_for_fuller_d.html#incart_m-rpt-1

The very Democratic leaning State College Centre Daily Times, which endorsed her, and didn't cover the story for two weeks (at least on-line) came out with a blistering editorial on that and the "investigation of the investigation." 

According to Wikipedia, the major good government group, "The Committee of Seventy," has called for a special prosecutor to investigate Kane.

[Badger]

The underlying issue is still well in the news as well:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/pa_lawmakers_call_for_fuller_d.html#incart_m-rpt-1

The very Democratic leaning State College Centre Daily Times, which endorsed her, and didn't cover the story for two weeks (at least on-line) came out with a blistering editorial on that and the "investigation of the investigation." 

According to Wikipedia, the major good government group, "The Committee of Seventy," has called for a special prosecutor to investigate Kane.

From it's own Wiki leak, the Committee of Seventy seems like an upright non-partisan group. But lordy that is an Orwellian sounding name.

[IceSpear]

Corbett trails Generic D by 22 points

Similar to the 19 he trailed Wolf by in the most recent Quinnipiac poll.

[Keystone Phil]

The underlying issue is still well in the news as well:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/pa_lawmakers_call_for_fuller_d.html#incart_m-rpt-1

The very Democratic leaning State College Centre Daily Times, which endorsed her, and didn't cover the story for two weeks (at least on-line) came out with a blistering editorial on that and the "investigation of the investigation." 

According to Wikipedia, the major good government group, "The Committee of Seventy," has called for a special prosecutor to investigate Kane.

From it's own Wiki leak, the Committee of Seventy seems like an upright non-partisan group. But lordy that is an Orwellian sounding name.

I can confirm that 70 is a good government watchdog group.

[J. J.]

Corbett trails Generic D by 22 points

Similar to the 19 he trailed Wolf by in the most recent Quinnipiac poll.

I'm a bit suspicious of a poll where the results show that 100% plan to vote. 

[J. J.]

Wolf is outspending everyone:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/wolf_outspends_all_rivals_toge.html#incart_m-rpt-1

What I found interesting is that McCord raised less money than Wolf, even less than McGinty.  Wolf is largely self funded and isn't focusing on fund raising. 

I think it might come down to Wolf and Schwartz.

[Keystone Phil]

More bad news for Kane - http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/hp/news_update/&id=254459871

[J. J.]

Now it is the Washington Post talking about Kane:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/09/read-in-wednesday-april-9-2014-secret-service-supervisor-demoted-hope-for-ui-in-the-house-mcallister-will-seek-fbi-probe/

Kane took what could have been a 2-3 day story, and transformed it into a major scandal.

[publicunofficial]

Now it is the Washington Post talking about Kane:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/09/read-in-wednesday-april-9-2014-secret-service-supervisor-demoted-hope-for-ui-in-the-house-mcallister-will-seek-fbi-probe/

Kane took what could have been a 2-3 day story, and transformed it into a major scandal.

One paragraph on an online blog post in the WaPo does not a major scandal make. This whole thing still feels like it's something only hacks care about.

[J. J.]

Now it is the Washington Post talking about Kane:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/09/read-in-wednesday-april-9-2014-secret-service-supervisor-demoted-hope-for-ui-in-the-house-mcallister-will-seek-fbi-probe/

Kane took what could have been a 2-3 day story, and transformed it into a major scandal.

One paragraph on an online blog post in the WaPo does not a major scandal make. This whole thing still feels like it's something only hacks care about.

It does when they are talking about it three weeks later.

[Keystone Phil]

Now it is the Washington Post talking about Kane:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/09/read-in-wednesday-april-9-2014-secret-service-supervisor-demoted-hope-for-ui-in-the-house-mcallister-will-seek-fbi-probe/

Kane took what could have been a 2-3 day story, and transformed it into a major scandal.

One paragraph on an online blog post in the WaPo does not a major scandal make. This whole thing still feels like it's something only hacks care about.

I'm sorry but you really don't know what you're talking about.

It's an almost daily story across PA, she's getting hammered by Dem friendly editorial boards, she's at war with the Dem DA in Philly (she's now throwing another fit by telling Williams, "Here. You prosecute the whole thing!") and some out of staters insist this is nothing. You're right about one thing though: hacks. Except it's the hacks on your side that insist this isn't even a story.

Please note though that not even the PA Dems around here are saying, "This isn't a story." It's one thing to say that this won't be detrimental to her in the long run (which I disagree with but whatever). It's another to act as if this isn't even a real story when it's literally front page stuff and she's catching hell from her own party.

[windjammer]

Can someone explain me the problem? I understand nothing!

[Keystone Phil]

Front page of today's Inquirer...




It's ok, though! Some people from across the country said it's no big deal. "Only (Republican) hacks care!" Kane is resting easily!

[IceSpear]

Kane is definitely hurt by this, no doubt about it. Is it a career ender? At the moment, almost certainly not.

[J. J.]

Williams just said he'd take the case, but he wants everything.

A possible conflict of interest has cropped up, with a Kane staffer (prior to becoming a staffer) being one of those people who took money.

Re-election is not an issue for Kane; continued survival as AG is. 

[J. J.]

In the Governor's race, Schwartz came out swinging against Wolf in a debate, accusing him of buying the nomination.  McCord's stepbrother accused him of dissing his stepfather.   

[Keystone Phil]

In the Governor's race, Schwartz came out swinging against Wolf in a debate, accusing him of buying the nomination.  McCord's stepbrother accused him of dissing his stepfather.   

Yeah, now it starts to get more entertaining.

[henster]

If all Schwartz has to hit Wolf with is the loan then he has this thing sewn up it's just not a thing that's going to get voters to abandon him. And Schwartz's first campaign ad on CHIP seemed weak and ineffective it's just not something people care about.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, I agree the loan attack is weak but I think there's more where that came from. Of course, if there isn't, you know I'll obviously enjoy watching Schwartz hilariously fail in a primary she was supposed to have wrapped up.

[windjammer]

Oh, I agree the loan attack is weak but I think there's more where that came from. Of course, if there isn't, you know I'll obviously enjoy watching Schwartz hilariously fail in a primary she was supposed to have wrapped up.

Why do you seem to specifically hate her?

[J. J.]

If all Schwartz has to hit Wolf with is the loan then he has this thing sewn up it's just not a thing that's going to get voters to abandon him. And Schwartz's first campaign ad on CHIP seemed weak and ineffective it's just not something people care about.

Wolf's commercials are better, but Schwartz's commercials are good.

Schwartz is in a position where she has a reasonable amount of money and is raising it much better than the largely self funded Wolf.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, I agree the loan attack is weak but I think there's more where that came from. Of course, if there isn't, you know I'll obviously enjoy watching Schwartz hilariously fail in a primary she was supposed to have wrapped up.

Why do you seem to specifically hate her?

Her ideology and political background aside, the first campaign I was truly strongly involved in was for her opponent in the 2004 open PA 13 seat.

[IceSpear]

Oh, I agree the loan attack is weak but I think there's more where that came from. Of course, if there isn't, you know I'll obviously enjoy watching Schwartz hilariously fail in a primary she was supposed to have wrapped up.

Even when she was the "frontrunner", she was polling in the 20s. I wouldn't really call that wrapped up.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, I agree the loan attack is weak but I think there's more where that came from. Of course, if there isn't, you know I'll obviously enjoy watching Schwartz hilariously fail in a primary she was supposed to have wrapped up.

Even when she was the "frontrunner", she was polling in the 20s. I wouldn't really call that wrapped up.

Her favored status was never really evidenced in polling, sure, but that's because was a frontrunner during the pre-primary period. It was more of a conventional wisdom thing. I guess that could lead to a debate over whether or not someone like that can ever be considered a real frontrunner.