State Political Profile: Pennsylvania
Governor
Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, faces a re-election challenge this year from former NFL star Lynn Swann, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination in the May 16 primary.
Swann, 54, would be Pennsylvania's first black governor.
A political novice with no record to stand on but abundant star power from his memorable career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Swann locked up the Republican State Committee endorsement even before it was awarded in February. Two other candidates, including former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, the wealthy son of a former governor, stepped aside in the face of strong support for Swann, who also had a long career as a reporter for ABC Sports.
Rendell, 62, who raised and spent a record-shattering $40 million-plus in his 2002 campaign, is expected to be no less formidable a fund raiser in his expected re-election bid this year. The former Philadelphia mayor and general chairman of the Democratic National Committee had $13.6 million on hand as of May 1 more than five times as much as Swann.
Swann trails Rendell in the polls a Quinnipiac University poll in May pegged the margin at 55 percent to 33 percent and is most popular in western Pennsylvania, where he lives in the Pittsburgh suburbs. His campaign strategists hope he can make inroads among blacks, who make up 10 percent of the states voters, and among Republicans in the Philadelphia suburbs whose support for Rendell was crucial to his 2002 election victory
Rendell boasts that he has fulfilled most of his campaign promises even though the GOP controls both houses of the Legislature, including the legalization of slot-machine gambling and increased spending for economic development, education and social services. But his initiatives required higher taxes, including the first income-tax boost in 13 years. And a program to funnel $1 billion a year in slots revenue to homeowners in the form of property-tax cuts was blocked by local school boards in 2005.
Swann recently brought in Tom Ridge, the former Pennsylvania governor and the nation's first homeland-security secretary, to help his campaign raise money. Swann also has proposed overhauling the state's property-tax system with a variation on the controversial Proposition 13 initiative that Californians adopted in 1978. The plan, which would require voter approval to amend the state constitution, would hold the line on tax rates and freeze assessments until properties are sold or substantially expanded.
U.S. Senate
The marquee match in Pennsylvania this year is between Sen. Rick Santorum, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, and Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey, son of the late governor and a proven statewide vote-getter. With second-term Santorum trailing Casey in the double digits in early polling and regarded as vulnerable, the race is billed as the Senate race to watch in 2006. The two are on track to raise a combined $50 million, which would make it the most expensive Senate races in state history.
This presidential battleground state went for John Kerry in 2004 and has more registered Democrats than Republicans. Santorum's outspoken opposition to abortion and gay marriage has alienated him among many moderates whose support he desperately needs. He is a close ally of President Bush --even backing his unpopular Social Security overhaul plan last yearwhich also could hurt him.
Santorum remains steadfast in his conservative views. "If I wasn't effective in what I was doing and if I wasn't making a difference here, if I wasn't someone who threatened their liberal ideology, then they wouldn't be bothering with me," Santorum said. "I see that as a plus, not a minus."
Casey, who is expected to easily fend off two lesser-known candidates in the May 16 primary, has the advantage of statewide name recognition. Like Santorum, he is in his 40s, Catholic and opposed to abortion, which Democrats hope will negate any advantage Santorum might otherwise get from voters against abortion. His low-key style could hurt him in a match with the more animated Santorum. But the clean-cut reputation he has cultivated as state auditor general and treasurer could provide a positive contrast on the issue of ethics if he succeeds in portraying Santorum as a Washington insider linked to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the K Street Project, a GOP initiative to increase the number of Republican lobbyists.
"What they see with Senator Santorum time and again is a lot of ideology and special interests," Casey said. "That's why people are demanding change."
U.S. House
Pennsylvania's most interesting congressional races are playing out in the Philadelphia suburbs, which are growing increasingly Democratic and where Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell received key support that propelled him into office in 2002.
The state's premier House racea rematch between Rep. Jim Gerlach, a second-term Republican from the 6th District, and Lois Murphy, a lawyer who nearly beat him in 2004is drawing national attention. Democrats see the district as key to their effort to regain a House majority. Murphy, who formerly worked for NARAL ProChoice America, was district coordinator for Rendell's 2002 campaign in Montgomery County and he is expected to campaign for her. The candidates are on track to raise a combined $5 million.
A second race to watch could be in the 8th District in the Philadelphia suburbs, where freshman Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick is expected to face one of two prospective challengers competing in the Democratic primary: Patrick Murphy, a lawyer and Iraq War veteran, and Andy Warren, a former Republican Bucks County Commissioner who recently switched parties.
Raj Bhakta, a Republican who was fired by Donald Trump on "The Apprentice" has generated some buzz in his effort to unseat freshman Rep. Allyson Schwartz a Democrat in the 13th District.
Democrats would love to see lawyer Bryan Lentz, an Iraq War veteran, oust Rep. Curt Weldon, a Republican maverick. But unseating the 10-term incumbent who is vice chairman of the House Armed Services committee, could be tough in the 7th District.
Although Republican Reps. Tim Murphy (18th District) and Melissa Hart (4th District) in western Pennsylvania have been targeted by Democrats, their opponents have failed to attract much attention.
Despite taking a bold stand against the war, Rep. John Murtha, a Democrat in western Pennsylvania's 12th District first elected in 1974, is unopposed and appears secure in his seat.
-- Associated Press
