U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-15th District, slightly outraised Democratic challenger Sam Bennett with a haul of $244,000 during the second quarter of the year as the candidates padded their war chests for the campaign stretch run.

Bennett’s $222,000 tally from April through June was her best quarterly take since she jumped into the race in early 2007, bringing her overall fundraising to $534,000, her campaign said.

Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to disclose their fundraising numbers to the Federal Election Commission. Their next filing won’t come until mid-October, just weeks before the Nov. 4 election.  read more »

Making a case that he remains more concerned with the needs of his district than the ‘‘mindless partisan bickering’‘ of Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent on Friday formally announced that he is seeking a third term.

‘‘All the time, people tell me Washington is broken,’‘ said Dent, R-15. ‘‘And you know what? They are absolutely right. This first session of the 110th Congress dramatically proved the point. In 2007, Congress accomplished less in more time than any Congress in recent history. It’s sad but true. We have to do better.’‘  read more »