Budget day; Expert looks at Pa12

Jim O'Toole has more on the giant $25 million Obama campaign ad buy in Pa and other background states.

Jason Altmire did some handicapping of the Pa12 race after his endorsement of Mark Critz over Republican Keith Rothfus yesterday that didn't make it into the story:

Mr. Altmire has run against both Mr. Critz and Mr. Rothfus and said his fellow Democrat can prevail in a socially conservative district that could well vote for Mr. Romney for president but support such Democrats as Mr. Critz or U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Voters in the newly made 12th District voted 54 percent for John McCain in 2008.

"The winner of this race is going to be the one who can appeal to the people in the middle ... This is going to come down to who wins the people splitting their tickets," he said.

State budget debate starts today with a legislative Republican plan to restore about $500 million in education funding cut by Gov. Tom Corbett (Laura Olson)