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CLINTON CARRIES KEYSTONE STATE BY 10 PERCENT.  A SMALL BOOST IN DELEGATE COUNT, BUT A BIG BOOST IN MOMENTUM.  With strong, unrelenting support from Governor Edward G. Rendell, a number of Members of Congress, and key city Mayors including Philadelphia’s Michael Nutter, Harrisburg’s Steve Reed, and Pittsburgh’s Luke Ravenstahl, US Senator Hillary Clinton has defeated US Senator Barack Obama.  Votes are still being tallied, but it appears Clinton won by a margin of about 10 percent. 

Clinton’s campaign was grossly outspent by Obama’s and came into Pennsylvania on the meager momentum of the do-or-die Texas and Ohio wins.  As voters’ attention moved from the war in Iraq to the domestic economy, however, Clinton’s message began to resonate with likely Democratic voters and her poll numbers soared.  While Obama made up some ground, nearly all pollsters agreed that Clinton was the likely winner.  In fact, many analysts had begun to say that if Clinton did not win by 10 percent, she would have failed.  In the race against expectations, it appears Clinton just made the higher threshold test.  Even before that was clear, however, she argued, “A win is a win.” To be sure, the win should mean new resources from donors and more momentum for upcoming elections in Indiana and North Carolina and later contests in Oregon, South Dakota, Montana and Puerto Rico.  Clinton hopes to convince “Super Delegates” that she is more electable than Obama in the General Election contest against presumptive GOP nominee US Senator John McCain.  Her consistent ability to win in big, more conservative states – and so called “purple” swing states – such as Pennsylvania – help her to make the case.

Clinton’s win boosts Governor Rendell’s prestige – a reputation he put on the line in very personal terms during this race – and has to be seen as a blow to US Senator Bob Casey, Jr. who backed Obama.  It seemed odd that the more conservative Casey was teamed with Obama and the more liberal Rendell teamed with Clinton.  About one-third of Pennsylvania Democratic Super Delegates have thus far not announced their preferences.  Some may do so now that Primary Election Day has come and gone.

INCUMBENTS HANG ON TO THEIR SEATS.  Two state House incumbents failed to qualify for the ballot and a few state legislative incumbents had a close call on Primary Election Day, but all but one survived to live another day.  Rep. Harold James lost his Primary bid to Kenyatta Johnson.  Kevin Murphy secured the Democratic nomination for the House 113^thDistrict and Vanessa Brown won the Democratic nomination for the House 190^thDistrict when incumbents Frank Shimkus and Thomas Blackwell, respectively, were thrown off the ballot for petition irregularities.  All other incumbents overcame their challengers.

RUSS DIAMOND GETS SWEPT.  PA CleanSweep leader Russ Diamond tried to join the ranks of lawmakers this year but was soundly defeated in the Republican Primary by incumbent Mauree Gingrich.

A WIN FOR REFORM?  Attorney Larry Farnese won the Democratic nomination in the 1st Senate District by defeating IBEW Local 98 Business Manager John “Doc” Dougherty and activist Anne Dicker.  Farnese told those at his Election Night celebration and television reporters that with his win “Harrisburg will be reformed; this City will be reformed; we fought back old school politics and corruption.”  Standing next to Farnese during the speech was retiring-incumbent Vince Fumo who faces a 139 count Federal indictment and trial this coming fall.  See the video at http://cbs3.com/video/?cid=234.

5 NEW STATE SENATORS ELECTED FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.  There are six open seats in the Pennsylvania Senate this year.  Five of the six districts are “safe” – overwhelmingly favoring one party over the other.  Unless lightening strikes between now and November, we would expect the following five individuals to join the Senate next January:

Lawrence Farnese (D-Philadelphia, 1^st)

Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster/York 13^th)

Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming/Bradford/Union/Susquehanna/Sullivan, 23^rd)

Rich Alloway (R-Adams, Franklin, York, 33^rd)

Sean Ramaley (D-Beaver/Lawrence/Allegheny, 47^th)

STATE RESULTS IN BRIEF (corrected and final).  Here are your projected winners in key races (victorious incumbents in bold,victorious challengers who defeated incumbents in red):