Democratic state House candidate John R. Ritter is undergoing treatment for leukemia but plans to stay in the race for the 187th District seat, his campaign said Wednesday.

Ritter began treatment at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on Monday. He was diagnosed and received a treatment plan last week, his campaign said.

‘‘John’s doctor anticipates he will recover and be able to serve if elected in November,’‘ Ritter’s wife and campaign manager, Lynn Ritter, said in a written statement. She said Ritter will campaign as treatment allows. ‘‘Getting well will be my husband’s first priority, but John will keep in touch with supporters and constituents.’‘  read more »

The one thing I don’t understand here is why change the rules, John? They’ve kept attention on the Democratic contest and highlighted why the primary schedule can produce a long primary. It seems to me that the latter part of that is the problem, not the rules themselves.

YOU KNOW she’s not going away.

You know the spin today, tomorrow, next week (bring on West Virginia!) will be about how she’s a fighter who never gives up (bring on Kentucky!).

So, despite Barack Obama’s big North Carolina win and much better-than-expected showing in Indiana, you know there’s more to come. Makes me crazy.  read more »

So it is official, Clinton has a lead in terms of “committed delegates”, “automatic delegates” and “popular vote” in another large state.

Hillary Clinton will net 12 delegates from her presidential primary win in Pennsylvania, according to an analysis by The Morning Call of unofficial vote totals released by the state Friday.

The New York senator, who won the primary with 55 percent of the vote, will pick up a total 85 pledged delegates, a dozen more than Barack Obama, who will gain 73.  read more »

At this point, I suspect some super-delegates, like freshmen Congressmen in tough districts, for instance, are worried about publicly declaring support for anyone. Rep. Chris Carney’s district went for Clinton but he’s got a tough re-election fight ahead of him; if Obama wins the nomination he’s going to need the help!  read more »

A week after losing his state Senate race, labor leader John J. Dougherty announced plans to step down tomorrow as chairman of the city Redevelopment Authority. His term was not slated to end until early next year.

“I am resigning at this point in time because I believe I have accomplished all the goals I set for myself and have served the authority with distinction for eight productive years,” Dougherty, business manager of electricians union Local 98, wrote to Mayor Nutter in a letter he hand-delivered to City Hall early yesterday.  read more »

The real point is that Senator Casey backed the man who will eventually be the Democratic nominee and perhaps the next president. That’s worth a lot more than a bit of bruising in his home state. No big deal.

On the surface, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey looks like one of the biggest losers in the Democratic presidential contest.

The state’s junior senator backed Sen. Barack Obama — and traveled with him across the state — and Obama lost by 9 percentage points to Sen. Hillary Clinton statewide. In Lackawanna, Casey’s home county, Clinton crushed Obama by a 74 percent to 26 percent margin.  read more »

I find it relaxing, Jane!

One of the things I learned early on as a political blogger is that just after an election there is a “thud.” That’s the sound of a large number of people dropping my email address out of their address book or off of their distribution lists.