Mark Your Calendar

Here is a list of important dates upcoming in the election cycle. The first on is Tuesday, Aug. 1, which is when we will see of the various independent candidates got the 67,000-plus signatures they need to qualify for the November ballot.

Bob Warner has a status report on those efforts in the Daily News. His reading of the situation -- it looks bad for anti-pay-grab leader Russ Diamond's bid to run for governor. Carl Romanelli, the would-be Green Party U.S. Senate candidate, says he is optimistic he will reach his goal.

If Romanelli and Diamond do submit petitions, look for legal challenges to knock them off the ballot due to forged or incorrect signatures.

Conventional wisdom is that Diamond on the ballot would hurt Lynn Swann, while Romanelli on the ballot would hurt Bob Casey.

		Important Campaign 2006 Dates
August	1	Deadline for independents and minor parties
		to file nominating petitions for candidates
		to run in the General Election.
August	14	Last day for candidates nominated in
		the party primary elections to withdrawal.
September	26	Deadline for state candidates to file
		campaign spending reports with the
		state Election Bureau, listing money raised
		and spent as of Sept. 18th
October	10	Last day to register to vote
October	15	Deadline for candidates for U.S. Senate
		and Congress to file campaign finance
		reports with the FEC, listing money raised
		and spent as of Oct. 1
October	27	Final pre-election campaign finance
		disclosure for state candidates.
November	7	General Election