Friday political round-up

• Today's big story (in a Friday trash sense) appears to be a gaffe by Governor Rendell in which he attributed his signing of the pay-hike to a need to "kiss butt." I think there might have been better descriptions (not least his own argument about the desirable judicial raises, pressure to keep peace, etc). Dave Rialis worries that this will resurrect Swann's campaign, but I think it's a bit early to have an effect in the general. Still...
  
  
• Two new polls show Casey still with a lead over Santorum for the US Senate, although this isn't a margin to rest on. Perhaps more tellingly, Casey gets higher support from within his party than Santorum does in his own...
  
  
• Ray Murphy notes that "the other progressive" in the 175th state house race, Terry Graboyes, has a history of giving money to Republicans (including the unlovable Perzel). It raises questions about whether her interests are really in the realm of political principle or merely that of business expediency.
  
  
• Above Average Jane gives some quick impressions of various candidates for state or SE-PA office that she has had the opportunity to hear in person.
  
  
• The Daily News applauds Mayor Street's recent activity in support of reducing gun violence, and particularly his apparent willingness to stick with this difficult problem.
  
  
• Columnist Jill Porter thinks that the 2007 mayoral candidates need nicknames to help keep them straight. She offers a few, um, modest proposals.
  
  
• A DN letter catches D.A. Lynn Abraham expressing an unfortunate sentiment. But really, she gets along with everybody.
  
  
• Albert posts the picture of local newbie committee candidates (including himself) from the DN piece earlier in the week. I say they all look like trouble... ;)
  
  
• And finally, Chris Bowers gives a glimpse of a Ward Committee endorsement meeting from the inside, the first that he's been a part of. He seemed heartened by the real democracy-in-action feeling of the meeting, even though not every endorsement went the way he hoped.