Pennsylvania Democrats are salivating at the prospect of taking on Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in 2014, but Corbett has not done a bad job in his first two years as governor.

Considering the fiscal mess left by former Gov. Ed Rendell, a free-spending Democrat, Corbett has had his hands full trying to restore fiscal sanity to the Keystone State.

And his efforts to privatize the state lottery and liquor systems could pay off big dividends for state taxpayers.

While Rendell kicked the can down the road on two pressing issues - public pension reform and transportation - Corbett said he is willing to tackle both problems, which has made him unpopular with the core constituency of Democrats - labor unions.

Corbett's poll numbers are down and there's even talk of a primary challenge from his own party by Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr., but don't bury Corbett so quickly.

Granted, Corbett  is the victim of lousy PR by his own staff and he continuously battles anti-Republican Harrisburg press corps that fawned over Rendell for eight years, but don't write off Corbett's political future just yet.

The only reason Democrats did so well in the 2012 elections for three state row offices was having Barack Obama at the top of the ticket. They won't have that luxury in 2014.

An if Corbett continues to sign balanced budgets on time - something Rendell was unable or unwilling to do over eight years - Pennsylvania voters will be willing to take another look at a second Corbett term when 2014 rolls around. 

Pennsylvania Dems Search For Right Candidate To Challenge Vulnerable Corbett - NationalJournal.com

Familiar names will continue to lead Berks County government in 2012 and beyond as voters re-elected every incumbent on the ballot for countywide offices on Tuesday.

All three incumbent commissioners — Republicans Mark C. Scott and Christian Y. Leinbach and Democrat Kevin S. Barnhardt — won new four-year terms to the three-member board. The odd-man out was Democrat David J. Batdorf, who finished a distant fourth.

Leinbach, who won his second term, was the top vote-getter with 28,958 votes, followed by Scott (who won a fifth term) with 27,556 and Barnhardt (winning a second term) with 22,973. Batdorf, making a second run for a commissioner’s seat, trailed with 17,392 votes.

The votes are final but unofficial until elections officials certify the numbers.

The most closely watched race in Berks this year was for register of wills, with incumbent Republican Larry Medaglia Jr. facing a well-financed challenge from Reading attorney Bernardo Carbajal.

Medaglia received 30,067 votes to win a fifth four-year term. Carbajal, who accused Medaglia of running up large deficits in the register of wills office, trailed with 19,368 votes.

Berks County Democrats perceived Medaglia as vulnerable after he lost a special election earlier this year for a vacant state Senate seat held by the late Sen. Mike O’Pake. Medaglia lost that race in the heavily Democratic 11th Senate District to former Berks County Commissioner Judy Schwank, but showed his popularity with voters countywide by easily defeating Carbajal.

In the race for Berks County sheriff, incumbent Republican Eric J. Weaknecht easily defeated Democrat Daniel P. Billings to win a second term. Weaknecht finished with 33,433 votes to 17,629 for Billings.

Weaknecht has served in the Berks County sheriff's department for 26 years, beginning his career in 1984 as a deputy sheriff.

Billings was a 27-year veteran of the Wyomissing Police Department and is currently the director of security and transportation for St. Joseph Medical Center.

All the other row office races on Tuesday's ballot were uncontested:

• Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams, a Democrat, received 37, 346 votes to win a second term.

• Recorded of Deeds Frederick C. Sheeler, also a Democrat, finished with 34,743 votes to win a second term.

• Berks County Controller Sandy Graffius, a Republican, received 35,512 votes to win a third term.

• Clerk of Courts James P. Troutman, also a Republican, finished with 37,996 votes to win his seventh term.

Four Berks County Court of Common Pleas judges seeking retention for an additional 10 years on the court were approved by the voters.

Judge Peter W. Schmehl received 28,875 "yes" votes to 9,086 "no" votes for retention. Judge Jeffrey K. Sprecher received 26,905 "yes" votes to 9,500 “no” votes. Judge Mary Ann Campbell received 26,725 "yes" votes to 9,688 "no" votes. Judge Thomas G. Parisi received 26,642 "yes" votes to 9,755 "no" votes.

Obama lost many donors from '08 presidential race - Washington Times

Deadline to Register to Vote in November Election is Oct. 11

National Popular Vote Initiative Launches Advertising Campaign in Harrisburg

Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Tom Corbett want to change how Pennsylvania awards its delegates to presidential candidates. Republicans say it's a more fair way to pick a president and would give a greater voice to rural voters. Democrats say the plan is intended to erase their strongholds in major cities.

Check out this interesting analysis at National Journal on how the 2008 presidential race would have been different if all states changed the way they award delegates.

Moving Markets - Reid Wilson - NationalJournal.com

How did a Catholic Republican pull off an upset in a Democratic Jewish Congressional district?

Patrick Brennan has some thoughts on the GOP's winning strategy in New York's 9th Congressional District and how it can use the same formula against Barack Obama in 2012.

In NY-9, GOP Listened to Voters - Patrick Brennan - National Review Online

A growing number of conservatives, including Deroy Murdock, want Texas Gov. Rick Perry to enter the presidential race.

Run, Rick, Run! - HUMAN EVENTS

Rick Perry's Moment - Matt Mackowiak - National Review Online

More politicians are using social networking to get their message to potential voters, according to a new study.

NationalJournal.com - Pew Report: Looking For Voters? Check Out Facebook and LinkedIn

PA League of Women Voters Endorses National Popular Vote

Rasmussen Reports: 75% Support Showing Photo ID At The Polls

The biggest contest in Montgomery County Tuesday was the race for the Republican nomination for Sheriff.

The endorsed candidate, Eileen Whalon Behr, who was nominated as interim sheriff by Gov. Tom Corbett, faced a challenge from Robert J. Durante, another law enforcement veteran.

In this case, the party backing proved decisive.

Behr, 54, of Lafayette Hill, who recently retired as Whitemarsh police chief, finished with 21,493 votes while Durante, 58, of Norristown, trailed with 9,839 votes with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to unofficial election results.

Behr, who has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, is the heavy favorite to become the first female elected sheriff in Montgomery County history.

She was not taking anything for granted Tuesday when she spoke to Mercury reporter Carl Hessler Jr.

"It's only step one. We still have a long way to go to November," Behr said from a celebration at Montgomery County Republican headquarters. "I'm very grateful for all the people who came out to support me."

Behr's opponent in the November general election will be Democrat William A. Holt Jr., 65, of Abington, a former detective sergeant with the Abington Police Department.

The winner of the November contest will succeed longtime Sheriff John P. Durante, who died last year from a heart attack at age 60. The late sheriff is no relation to Robert J. Durante.

Turnout was low, with about 13 percent of Montgomery County voters going to the polls for the primary election.