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IncumbentArlen Specter(R)

Opponent

William Lloyd(D)
Race OutlookStrong Republican


Despite heart surgery early in the year, Sen. Arlen Specter's political prognosis is strong.

Democratic challenger, state Rep. William Lloyd emerged from a three-way primary with 49% of the vote, but has a low name recognition state-wide (13%, Keystone Poll, 10/1). He's admitted having a difficult time fundraising.

This race is a stark contrast to Lynn Yeakel's challenge to Specter in 1992. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, Democrats are, "...no longer braying like insistent donkeys, they're hiding like turkeys before Thanksgiving. ... This is a state where [Dems] hold a registration advantage of nearly half a million voters," but the party is just not organized this cycle.

Even though Philadelphia Mayor, Ed Rendell endorsed Lloyd, the state AFL-CIO nod in September to Arlen Specter carries morweight. During a debate, Lloyd's admonishment of Specter and the GOP for not proposing an alternative to Clinton's universal health care proposal won him few points.

The obstacles were stacked against Lloyd's challenge before it began and Pennsylvania will most likely have two Republicans in the Senate for at least two more years.


























Incumbent

Tom Ridge(R)
OpponentRep. Ivan Itkin(D)
OpponentPeg Luksik(Cnl)
Race OutlookStrong Republican

Democratic challenger Ivan Itkin likes to call Governor Tom Ridge's reelection machine the "vice presidential campaign." That's because there is little doubt that Republican incumbent Ridge will hold onto his office. Most observers believe Ridge is trying to boost his performance at the ballot box to improve his chances for a slot on the national GOP ticket in 2000.


Ridge, who was elected in 1994 with only 45% of the vote, says he is just hoping to push his vote over 50%. Whatever he motive, Ridge has engaged in a multi-million dollar media blitz touting his accomplishments, like tax cuts and welfare reform, and laying out his agenda for the future. He faced one embarrassment in August when it was discovered that his chief fund-raiser deposited $70,000 in her personal account and she was put on a paid leave of absence while being investigated. But the incident hasn't tarred Ridge or hampered his fundraising. As of mid-September, he had $4.6 million in the bank for the final weeks of the campaign.


Itkin, a long-serving but little-known state
legislator, is more of a sacrifical lamb than a candidate. He has tried to
make an issue out of Ridge's massive fundraising and says that Ridge has
forgotten about the people he was elected to represent. But Itkin knows the
only race he is competing in is for second place because third party
candidate Peg Luskin outraised him in the most recent reporting period.
Luskin is the only candidate in the race who opposes abortion, but she is
also campaigning on a a lower taxes, less government platform. The most
recent polls show Ridge with a 2-to-1 lead with Itkin comfortably in second
place




























Current Lineup: 21 Districts, 10 Republicans, 11 Democrats
CD1

Incumbent

size=2>ROBERT BRADY (D) --age 53
Opponents

William Harrison (R)


John Featherman (Libertarian) Accountant


Nancy Cole (Socialist Workers) Union Activist

OutlookStrong
Democrat
District Profile

South and central Philadelphia; part of Chester

: face=Arial size=2>Robert Brady (D) won a four-way special election
May 19 to succeed Tom Foglietta (D), who resigned to become
Ambassador to Italy November 12, 1997.























CD2

Incumbent

size=2>CHAKA FATTAH (D) -- age 41 Elected 1994
OpponentAnne Marie Mulligan (R)
OutlookStrong
Democrat
District Profile size=2>West Philadelphia; Chestnut Hill; Yeadon. 1996
House:D-88%
R-12%























CD3

Incumbent

size=2>ROBERT BORSKI (D) -- age 50 Elected 1982
Opponent

Charles Dougherty (R) Fmr Rep/Fmr State Sen

OutlookLikely
Democrat
District Profile size=2>

Northeast Philadelphia

. 1996 House: size=2>D-69% R-31%























CD4

Incumbent

size=2>RON KLINK (D) -- age 47 Elected 1992
Opponent size=2>

Mike Turzai (R) --age 39 Attorney

OutlookLikely
Democrat
District Profile; size=2>

West - Beaver County; part of Westmoreland County

. 1996
House: D-64%
R-36%























CD5

Incumbent

size=2>JOHN PETERSON (R) --age 59 Elected 1996
Opponentsize=2>

William Belitskus (Green Party) Fmr Teacher/Community
Activist

OutlookStrong
Republican
District Profile; size=2>

Northwest, Central - State College

. 1996 House: face=Arial size=2>D-40% R-60%























CD6

Incumbent

size=2>TIM HOLDEN (D) -- age 41 Elected 1992
Opponent size=2>

John Meckley (R) --age 28 Attorney

OutlookStrong
Democrat
District Profile size=2>

Southeast - Reading

. 1996 House: D-59% R-41%























CD7

Incumbent

size=2>CURT WELDON (R) --age 51 Elected 1986
Opponent

Martin D'Urso (D) --age 43 Attorney

OutlookStrong
Republican
District Profile size=2>

Suburban Philadelphia - Part of Delaware County

. 1996
House: D-32%
R-67%






















CD8

Incumbent

size=2>JIM GREENWOOD (R) --age 47 Elected 1992
Opponents

Bill Tuthill (D) --age 54 Fmr Pres Bristol Township Dem
Cmte/Businessman/Disabled Vet


Scott Wolfertz (Constitutional)


James Blair (Reform) Government Accountant


Carolyn Boyce (Natural Law)


OutlookStrong
Republican
District Profile; size=2>

Northern Philadelphia suburbs - Bucks County

. 1996
House:D-35%
R-59%























CD9

Incumbent

BUD SHUSTER (R) -- age 66 Elected
1972

OpponentNo Democratic opponent
OutlookStrong
Republican
District Profile size=2>

South Central - Altoona

. 1996 House: size=2>-26% R-74%























CD10

Open
Seat

size=2>Donald Sherwood (R) Businessman/Tunkahannock School Brd Pres

Patrick Casey (D) Attorney/Son of Fmr Gov Bob Casey



Thomas McLaughlin (Reform) State Reform Party Chair/1996
nominee/Engineer

OutlookToss
Up
District Profile; size=2>

Norhteast - Scranton

Joe McDade (R) is
retiring
.









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