FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          
November 9, 2005                                                                             
                                                                                                                          DEMOCRATS PILE UP VICTORIES ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA

HARRISBURG, PA: Pennsylvania Democrats scored a statewide series of huge victories on Tuesday, sweeping their way across the state and gaining unprecedented momentum heading into the 2006 election cycle, the PA Democratic Party Chair said today.

"For three years running, Pennsylvania Democrats have nearly swept the board, winning time and time again because the Democratic Party is the Party of Pennsylvania's Future," said Rep T.J. Rooney, Chair of the Democratic Party, today.  "From the Lehigh Valley to Erie and Scranton to Lancaster, it is clear that Pennsylvanians know the Democratic Party is fighting the hardest and the smartest to improve life for our families in this Commonwealth."

The Lehigh Valley was especially disastrous for the state GOP.  Led by Don Cunningham, who trounced the incumbent Republican Lehigh County Executive,  John Stoffa, who picked up the Northampton County Executive seat, and Ed Pawlowski,  the new Democratic Mayor of Allentown, Democrats firmly established the Lehigh County as a Democratic Stronghold.  Also, in the Valley, Democrats swept all council seats both in Bethlehem and Allentown, and picked up control of the Northampton County Council.

In the West, where Republicans brag of making in roads, Democrats won for Mayor of Pittsburgh and Erie. Democrats picked up seats in Allegheny County,  swept Erie City Council, and seem to have won the County Executive race in Erie.

The East remained solidly Democrat, with Democrats winning overwhelmingly in Philadelphia and picking local seats throughout the suburbs.  Even in Bucks County, where Republicans continue to out number Democrats by 30,000 voters, the County-wide races were decided by a sliver, with Democrats picking up local seats.

Lancaster elected a Democratic Mayor, as did Scranton, and Pottsville.  Jim Goodman enjoyed a big victory for Schuylkill County DA.  And, here in Harrisburg, Democrats beat back a well-funded challenge from Otto Banks, who was heavily backed by national GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman.

"The tremendous hard work that our candidates and party activists have logged produced a great night for us last night," Rooney noted.  "Now, heading into 2006, we're going to build even further on that success, and make sure Pennsylvania remains a blue state for years to come."

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Wonderful !

I am salivating in anticipation of Santorum's defeat a year from now.

Me,too! What a sweet victory for PA when Santorum loses.