The LuLac Edition #3775, May 7th, 2018

BEHRENS KICK OFF GOES PERFECTLY 

Republican candidate for State Representative Justin Behrens held a kick off event at the White Haven VFW. There was a capacity crowd that attended hearing him outline his plans for the 119th. In a focused, friendly speech, Behrens, an Iraq War veteran made the case for his candidacy.
There was a lot of fun and support for his second run for the seat in the 119th. Here are a few photos from the event. 

Behrens outlining his plans in a well received speech. 

8th Congressional candidate John Chrin made the scene to support Behrens as well as tout his own race. 

 State committee candidate Lorri Vandermark with Behrens. 

A few shots of the interested crowd. 

State committee people Bill Lewis, Lorri Vandermark, 8th District candidate John Chrin, Behrens, Lynette Villano and P.J. Pribula. 

(Photos: Behrens Facebook page) 

ELLSWORTH GETS KEY NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENTS

GOP Candidate for Governor Laura Ellsworth 

I know they say newspaper endorsements aren't that important anymore but the news that Laura Ellsworth was endorsed for the GOP nod by the Harrisburg Patriot speaks volumes about the current state of the GOP race for Governor. That happened late in the week. Then yesterday, the Philadelphia Inquirer, part of Philly.com weighed in and also endorsed Ellsworth. The papers seem to be saying that Scott Wagner and Paul Mango just aren't up to going after Tom Wolf for the top job in the state.  Furthermore, they are saying that anyone who calls himself a Trump devotee or another guy being so blatantly mean spirited in his advertising, by signaling their disdain for both, the newspapers are saying both men lend nothing to the political discourse of 2018. 
Elections are won by money, name recognition and loyalty to a political philosophy. But elections are also won by someone providing another candidate as a "reasonable alternative". Both the Patriot News and the Philadelphia Inquirer did that this week for Pennsylvania voters.  Here is the news on both endorsements from the Ellsworth campaign.
Patriot News: Republican gubernatorial candidate Laura Ellsworth captured the first newspaper endorsement in the 2018 contest today, winning the backing of the Harrisburg Patriot-News/PennLive.com.
In an editorial released today, the paper said Ellsworth “has the character, temperament, and vision to lead Pennsylvania Republicans into what's widely expected to be a difficult fall campaign against Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf.
The newspaper, one of the state’s most influential because it is based in the state capital, decried the continuing attack ads traded by the two other Republican hopefuls, State Sen. Scott Wagner and Pittsburgh consultant Paul Mango.
The newspaper noted that Ellsworth has refrained from negative advertising and praised her recently released TV spot.
“The advertisement offered her as a commonsense alternative to Republicans weary of the mud-slinging between the race's putative front-runners,” the newspaper writes.
Ellsworth said she is delighted by the endorsement, noting the newspaper’s stature and influence.
“The Patriot-News has long been the go-to source for insights in Harrisburg, and their recommendation is a clear sign that our issues-based campaign has caught the imaginations of voters,” she said.
Ellsworth, a Pittsburgh attorney and community leader, is planning a statewide swing in the final week of the Primary contest, noted spokeswoman Brianna Buczkowski.

ELLSWORTH PICKS UP PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER BACKING

SECOND NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENT IN TWO DAYS

Philadelphia Inquirer: The Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed Republican candidate Laura Ellsworth in the GOP primary in its Sunday editions, saying she “brings depth to her understanding of the issues facing the state.”
“Her understanding of the state’s priorities — job creation, education, workforce development, among others — is supported by fact-finding and realistic thinking that goes beyond sound bites,” the newspaper declared.
The Inquirer is the largest newspaper in Pennsylvania and joins The Patriot-News of Harrisburg in declaring Ellsworth the most qualified Republican to challenge Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf in November.
“Each day seems to suggest an increasing momentum for my campaign, proving that voters want real policy solutions, not negative rhetoric and empty promises,” Ellsworth said.
The endorsement comes as Ellsworth’s campaign drops a $500,000 media buy to put her all-positive television ad on the air in virtually every Pennsylvania media market. The buy followed a surge in fundraising after polls – including an internal Ellsworth campaign poll – showed her rising rapidly in the three-way GOP contest.
Ellsworth’s opponents, State Sen. Scott Wagner, and Pittsburgh consultant Paul Mango, have dominated both the airwaves and news coverage with a bitter exchange of negative ads and mud-throwing.
“The poll also showed that roughly a quarter of voters are still not firmly decided, suggesting that voters were looking for an alternative to the two, better-known candidates,” said Ellsworth spokeswoman Brianna Buczkowski.
“What we’re finding is that people who become aware of Laura, and her issues-focused approach to the campaign, are looking to her as the viable alternative to challenge liberal Gov. Tom Wolf,” Buczkowski said.