ONE WEEK!

We've just entered the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas music is officially standard in my car for the rest of the year (as of this past weekend), and the mid-term elections are but one week away. Throw my birthday in-between, and yup, it's definitely the best time of the year.

(Side note: tomorrow is the last day for Pennsylvania counties to receive absentee ballots, so if you live in PA and haven't applied yet and won't be able to make it to your polling place next Tuesday, scurry over to the Bureau of Elections at your county seat and pick one up, ASAP!)

Basically, for political junkies, this whole week is Christmas Eve. The last-minute push, the end of campaign ads, and FINALLY seeing the light at the end of the tunnel... all while wondering if the last year of your life will mean anything after next Tuesday... it's almost undescribable.

Then comes that crucial day when volunteers, campaign staff, and candidates -whose adrenalin will rush an entire 24 hours- will brave the elements to stand all day at the polls to greet you and I, hoping to influence our vote at the last minute. As the polls close, they will retreat to elaborate parties to watch in nervous anticipation as the results come in.

And what will those results be?

Democrats have been closing the gap in Pennsylvania and across the US over the past week. However, I believe Republicans will pull it out, possibly even sweeping both the House and Senate for a total takeover of Congress. But it's simply wait and see.

Now, my choices for those of you who live in my district:

TOM CORBETT for Governor

• His opponent, Dan Onorato, is Rendell reincarnate. While Sam Rohrer was my first choice, he's no longer in the race, and I've been very impressed with Corbett throughout the campaign. So go with Corbett. A vote for anyone other than Corbett is a vote for 4 more years of Ed Rendell.
• The Lt. Governor candidate, Jim Cawley, I would not recommend voting for. However, as he and Corbett run as a team, there's not really any alternative. The PA GOP has some apologizing to do about that one.

PAT TOOMEY for US Senate

• Joe Sestak is your alternative. To quote one of the best ads of the season, "There's left. There's far left. Then there's Joe Sestak." This dude is way out there. Stick with Toomey.

DAVE ARGALL for Congress

• A wanna-be conservative when it's convenient, Tim Holden is the Democratic incumbent. While Holden DOES actually act like a conservative at times, and probably is one to some extent, we must take back the House to put a halt to the liberal left permeating DC. Vote for Argall.

JAKE CORMAN for PA Senate

• Corman is a fantastic Senator who has served our district incredibly well. He's going to keep this seat for as long as he wants and deserves it.

MARK KELLER for PA House

• Basically the same story as for Corman. Keller is to Perry County and the PA House what Joe Pitts is to Lancaster County and the US House, an all around great representative!

For those of you in PA who do not live in my district and your options are not on this list... for these midterms, I'd highly recommend you simply vote Republican in the categories I mentioned. I do not know of any Democrats or Independents anywhere in Central PA who would be better options than the GOP candidates on the ballot. Here are some that might be your options for Congress: Bill Shuster, Jim Gerlach, and Joe Pitts. All are worthy of your support.

VOTE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd

Independence Day ~ The Tea Party of MY Generation