Pennsylvania
By Eric Ostermeier on June 3, 2013
115 Pennsylvania U.S. Representatives served interrupted stints in the chamber, including seven with gaps of 20+ years.
By Eric Ostermeier on May 15, 2013
If Sestak wins the 2016 Democratic nomination he will be the first major party candidate to secure a rematch in a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race in the popular vote era.
By Eric Ostermeier on February 11, 2013
A Schwartz gubernatorial bid could bring Pennsylvania its first female governor as well as its first successful run by a sitting or former Democratic U.S. Representative.
By Eric Ostermeier on May 14, 2012
Only seven states have had more than half of their presidential election contests decided by single digits over the last 100 years: Missouri, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Oregon.
By Eric Ostermeier on April 25, 2012
Prior to Romney, no presumptive GOP nominee has failed to win 60 percent of the vote playing out the primary string after his last major challenger exited the race.
By Eric Ostermeier on February 14, 2011
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania lead the way with nine races decided by single-digits over the last 11 presidential election cycles; Missouri and Oregon are next with eight
By Eric Ostermeier on November 7, 2010
Only 3 percent of 230 Democratic U.S. House incumbents on the ballot increased their margin of victory in 2010 compared to 2008; Nancy Pelosi had the second largest increase
By Eric Ostermeier on April 28, 2010
Pennsylvania (-17 seats) and New York (-16 seats) have lost the largest number of seats from their peak U.S. House delegations; the Keystone State is slated to lose a seat again for a 9th consecutive census period
By Eric Ostermeier on March 16, 2010
Jim Gerlach's PA-06 seat is the only U.S. House district in the nation decided by less than 10 points in each of the last four election cycles; Democrats currently hold 35 of the Top 50 most competitive seats
By Eric Ostermeier on April 29, 2009
When Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Arlen Specter switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party on Tuesday morning, the first question asked was not why he bolted from the GOP, but how his change in party affiliation will impact the Democratic majority's quest for a filibuster-proof 60 votes on key legislation...
By Eric Ostermeier on April 23, 2008
Hillary Clinton's big (though unsurprising to Smart Politics) double-digit victory in the Keystone State Tuesday night did more than 'delay the inevitable'—the 'inevitable' being what most pundits say is that Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee for president. Clinton accomplished four things with her victory. First, she cut into...
By Eric Ostermeier on April 22, 2008
7:00 p.m. MSNBC characterizes the race as "too close to call." Fox News calls it "close" and CNN calls it "competitive." 7:10 p.m. It was an interesting, though not surprising, turn by the media during the past few days. The need to make Pennsylvania appear to be as competitive as...
By Eric Ostermeier on April 22, 2008
Three more polls of likely Pennsylvania primary voters were released today - each showing Hillary Clinton with a substantial lead: American Research Group (April 20-21, 600 LV): Clinton 56%, Obama 40% Zogby (April 20-21, 675 LV): Clinton 51%, Obama 41% InsiderAdvantage (April 21, 712 LV): Clinton 49%, Obama 42% Smart...
By Eric Ostermeier on April 21, 2008
Despite a lot of noise in the media during the last few weeks about Barack Obama's surging campaign in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton appears on top in all five polls released during the past 24 hours—including by double digits in two of them. Clinton has not trailed Obama in any of...
By Eric Ostermeier on April 10, 2008
With Pennsylvania's Democratic primary less than 2 weeks away, the media is attempting to drum up interest with reports that Barack Obama is running neck-and-neck with Clinton in the Keystone State. While it is true that Obama has gained ground on Clinton according to polling conducted over the past 4+...
By Eric Ostermeier on March 10, 2008
A new poll released Sunday by American Research Group (ARG) continues to show Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama by double digits, some six weeks before Pennsylvania's crucial Democratic primary. Clinton's lead, 52 to 41 percent, is less noteworthy than the extent of the gender gap reflected by this poll of...
By Eric Ostermeier on March 7, 2008
After the Wyoming caucuses on Saturday and the Mississippi primary on Tuesday (and perhaps even before those contests are finished), all attention will shift to the state of Pennyslvania in the next (though not necessarily last) showdown between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The lengthy 6+ week run up to...
By Eric Ostermeier on March 4, 2008
If one is to believe the final polls of Ohioans and Texans released over the last 24 hours, Hillary Clinton could be packing her bags for Pennsylvania after tonight's primary contests. While Obama will still lead in the pledged delegate count no matter what the outcomes in Ohio, Texas, Vermont,...
By Eric Ostermeier on September 7, 2007
While Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue their 1-2 punch in all national polls and most state polls, John Edwards consistently fares the best among the Democratic field when matched up against the leading Republican contenders. This is especially the case in key battleground states. In recent polling in Iowa...
