By Lauren Whittington -- Roll Call

The Republican Main Street Partnership PAC this week endorsed state Sen. Charlie Dent (R), the frontrunner in the open-seat 15th district race to succeed Rep. Pat Toomey (R), calling the state legislator an “excellent choice” to represent the swing district.

Dent defeated two primary opponents in April, taking 51 percent of the vote after being pegged as the moderate in the race.

He will face real estate developer Joe Driscoll (D) in November. Driscoll, who entered the race late, has been dogged by residency issues and a high number of out-of-state donations. “

Dent is the right kind of Republican to win this seat — a true fiscal conservative who takes a compassionate approach to social issues,” said RMSP PAC Advisory Board Member Rep. Tom Davis (Va.).

The Lehigh Valley-based district voted narrowly for then-Vice President Al Gore (D) in the 2000 presidential contest, and Pennsylvania is again expected to be a battleground in the White House race this fall.