Allentown mayor to run for US Senate

WASHINGTON – Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski plans to run for Senate, setting up a contested Democratic primary. An announcement is scheduled for Friday.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Pa.), the Philadelphia Democratic chairman, said Pawlowski has told him he plans to run.

A Pawlowski campaign consultant, Mike Fleck, Thursday that an announcement on Pawlowski's Senate plans is expected Friday. Fleck would not say what the announcement will be, though Pawlowski has been openly weighing entering the Democratic primary.

So far former Delaware County Congressman Joe Sestak is the only Democrat running in a race that the national party sees as critical to its chances of taking back the Senate next year. But many Democrats have sought an alternative, seeing Sestak as too much of a maverick in such an important race for the party.

Incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) is seeking re-election in a state that typically tilts Democrats' way in presidential election years, giving Democrats hope of ousting him, if they can mount a strong campaign.

Brady called Pawlowski "a formidable candidate. He's a pretty quality guy."

Pawlowski's challenge may be raising money. He briefly ran for governor last year, but dropped out when it became clear he couldn't raise the needed funding. Running for Senate carries more restrictions on raising money than governor.

Pawlowski, like Sestak, Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro and others, has been in touch with the party's national campaign arm about potentially entering the race. Shapiro is said to still be considering entering the contest.

"I'm a Josh Shapiro supporter," Brady said. He also likes Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, a neighor who has also mulled a run.

Other Democrats thinking about running are former Congressman Chris Carney and Philadelphia state Sen. Vincent Hughes.

Sestak has had a rocky relationship with national Democrats, though he won the party's 2010 primary even with the establishment against him.

This is a developing story.

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