The Tea Party Express today endorsed Republican Tom Smith for U.S. Senate.

Tom Smith, file photo. GREG WOHLFORD/

Fresh off Tuesday’s win for the GOP nomination in a five-man field, Smith will now try to unseat U.S. Bob Casey, D-Pa. Casey also won his party’s nomination Tuesday.

The Tea Party Express, billing itself as the nation’s largest Tea Party political action committee, endorsed Smith during a national bus tour kick-off rally outside of Pittsburgh.

Tea Party Express Chairwoman Amy Kremer, in a statement, criticized Casey for voting for the stimulus package and health-care reform.

“As someone who has lived the American dream, Tom has become a successful businessman that created thousands of jobs in the coal industry,” she said.

Smith is a former coal-company owner from Armstrong County. He also was the founder of a tea party group.

“We don’t need just another politician to go along to get along, but we need an innovative conservative willing to make the tough decisions. That’s Tom,” she said.

Casey, however, has been touting his independence from the White House.

– John Guerriero

President Barack Obama’s re-election team isn’t wasting any time after Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary.

President Barack Obama. File photo/ Associated Press.

The campaign said it will be out this weekend, in Erie and across the nation, working to register voters for the Nov. 6 election.

In Erie, the event will start at 11 a.m. at the Obama campaign’s headquarters, 1305 State St.

Don’t be surprised to get a knock on the door.

– John Guerriero

When you vote in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary, don’t forget to take your driver’s license or some other acceptable form of photo ID.

You’ll still be able to vote, as this is a dry run. But starting with the Nov. 6 election, you’ll need the photo ID to use the machines. Otherwise, you’ll have to fill out a paper provisional ballot, and then have six days to produce the photo ID to election officials.

So you might as well get in the habit now.

But all means, don’t let that or the weather keep you home.

Vote!

– John Guerriero

David Freed, the Republican candidate for state attorney general, campaigned in Erie today. Hear what he has to say:

– John Guerriero

If you don’t have reservations for the Erie County Republican Party’s spring dinner Friday night, you’re out of luck.

The event in a ballroom at the Bayfront Convention Center is sold out, said Shirley Brozell, the event’s chairwoman. About 160 tickets were sold.

The dinner will feature some heavy hitters on the GOP ballot, including U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-3rd Dist., and U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, of Howard Township, Centre County, R-5th  Dist.

Other speakers will include Janet Anderson, candidate for state Senate in the 49th District; Regina Smith, candidate for state House in the 3rd District; incumbent Curt Sonney, candidate for state House in the 4th District, Greg Lucas, candidate for state House in the 5th District; Scott Hutchinson, candidate for state Senate in the 21st District; state attorney general candidate David Freed; and Jean Craige Pepper Victor, a delegate candidate.

For those with tickets, the social hour starts at 6 p.m. and the dinner begins at 7 p.m.

– John Guerriero

Charles Dumas, Democratic candidate for Congress in 5th District, campaigned in Erie today. Listen to what he has to say:

– John Guerriero

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is endorsing Mitt Romney, the Romney campaign announced today.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. File photo by Christopher Millette

The announcement comes just days before the state’s primary, but with an eye toward the Nov. 6 election.

“I’m extraordinarily proud to earn Tom’s support,” Romney said in a statement.

“Tom has been a wonderful leader for Pennsylvania and shares my values of spurring economic security through scaling back the size of government and promoting pro-growth policies,” he said.

Mitt Romney speaks in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

“There is no doubt that Pennsylvania will be a crucial state in November. With Tom’s help, I know that I will be able to share my vision of restoring American greatness to Pennsylvania voters,” Romney said.

Corbett said now that the long primary season has ended, it’s time for Republicans “to come together and unite around the one candidate who can defeat Barack Obama and institute a bold conservative vision that we need in Washington.”

Corbett said that’s why he supports Romney.

It might be news to Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul that the primary season is over. Both have vowed to stay in until the GOP convention in August.

– John Guerriero

Steve Welch, the U.S. Senate candidate backed by the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee, went on the attack today in Erie against rival Tom Smith.

They are among five Republicans seeking their party’s nomination in the April 24 primary. The winner will likely face U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, in the Nov. 6 election.

Welch accused Smith, who portrays himself as a conservative founder of a tea party group, of raising taxes nine times as a former Plumcreek Township supervisor in Armstrong County.

The online PoliticsPA has reported that Smith did raise taxes, but not by a large dollar amount.

Both candidates go before the voters as former Democrats, an issue that might not sit well with the conservative base.

Welch has said he was briefly disenchanted with the party for losing its way over higher spending, while Smith has said he’s always been conservative regardless of party.

Welch held a news conference today at General Exterminating, a business co-owned by Millcreek resident Donna Reese.

Welch is calling his rival “Taxin’ Tom Smith.”

It could be an interesting run-up to the primary.

– John Guerriero

Former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper of Erie will help to kick off a phone bank effort Saturday at the Barack Obama headquarters in Erie.

She will join volunteers in helping to make calls to voters as part of a volunteer recruitment and get out the vote effort. 

File photo of former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper. GREG WOHLFORD/

The phones will be manned from noon to 5 p.m. at the headquarters, 1305 State St.

The campaign said it is looking for volunteers Saturday, too.

Contact Greg Waples, regional field director for the Obama campaign, at gwaples@ofapa.com or (814) 323-9273 with any questions.

– John Guerriero

Greg Lucas, a Republican candidate for state House in the 5th Legislative District, will hold a campaign kickoff party tonight at the Edinboro Hotel, 100 Meadville St., Edinboro.

The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

Lucas is the Edinboro mayor, but he has been going door to door throughout the district and meeting people.

Lucas also works for the Fortis Institute as an instructor and department head of the Construction Management associate degree program.

Lucas is unopposed for his party’s nomination in the April 24 primary. Also unopposed on the Democratic side is Jason White of Albion Borough.

– John Guerriero