Campaign Bits

By Tom Waring

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, who is challenging U.S Sen. Arlen Specter in next year's Democratic primary, announced his support for the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

The legislation would give people a choice between a public health insurance plan and a private one.

"We have addressed the key components required to revamp our current system: mandated coverage, subsidies to those who cannot afford insurance and a public-health option that adds needed competition to a system in which two companies provide 70 percent of all health insurance in Pennsylvania," he said.

According to Sestak, the legislation would not affect Americans who are happy with their current plans.

The congressman cited statistics showing that, from 2001-07, health insurance premiums increased by 86 percent in Pennsylvania, while wages rose only 13 percent.

Sestak called on Specter to follow his lead and support the plan in the Senate. That was his campaign theme for the week.

The challenger has called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which Specter voted for in 1996. The act excludes federal benefits for same-sex partners who have been married in states that recognize gay marriage.

Sestak also is calling on Specter to follow his lead and oppose a threatened Republican filibuster of Dawn Johnsen, who is President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Office of Legal Counsel.

Specter, who left the Republican Party earlier this year because he feared a loss to former Lehigh Valley congressman Pat Toomey in the primary, had opposed Johnsen when he was a member of the GOP.

Republicans oppose Johnsen because they maintain she holds radical pro-choice views on abortion.

Also last week, Sestak wrote a letter to Gov. Ed Rendell, a staunch Specter supporter, asking him to increase income eligibility limits for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Sestak said the federal government has provided grants that should allow a family of four with an annual income of about $44,000 or less to qualify for heating assistance this winter.

Right now, according to Sestak, the state Department of Public Welfare is setting the income limit at a little more than $33,000.

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Specter leads Sestak, 30 percent to 18 percent, in a poll released by Franklin & Marshall College. About half the voters are undecided.

Toomey is a big favorite for the Republican nomination. He faces Peg Luksik, a three-time candidate for governor, in the primary.

The poll of 616 adults showed Specter leading Toomey, 33 percent to 31 percent. About one-third of voters are undecided.

Toomey leads Sestak, 28 percent to 20 percent, with most voters not knowing enough about either candidate to form an opinion.

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Mark Schweiker last week became the third former governor to endorse Tom Corbett, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor next year.

Earlier, former Govs. Tom Ridge and Dick Thornburgh announced their support for Corbett, who is in his second term as the state's attorney general.

Schweiker declared his support for Corbett in an e-mail to the candidate's supporters, writing, "Tom has an unmatched record of accomplishment. His experience is vast and his dedication to the people of Pennsylvania is genuine."

Corbett faces U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach in next year's primary.

According to a poll released by Franklin & Marshall College, Corbett leads Gerlach, 30 percent to 8 percent. The vast majority of Republican voters, though, are undecided.

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In the Democratic primary for governor, state Auditor General Jack Wagner is continuing his tour of county party dinners.

Wagner urged party activists to support the Democratic ticket in this past Tuesday's election.

The candidate has also been talking about what his top priorities as governor would be - maintaining services without raising taxes, creating high-quality jobs and implementing a scholarship program that would provide free tuition to state-owned universities for any high school student graduating with a 3.0 grade point average.

In the Franklin & Marshall poll, Wagner was in second place with 9 percent of the vote. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato led the field with 10 percent. Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel was third with 6 percent, while Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox and Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty were tied for last with 3 percent. About two-thirds of Democrats were undecided.

Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com