Pa. voter ID law ruling could mean political swing

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Some political momentum could be on the line in a judge’s forthcoming ruling on Pennsylvania’s tough new voter identification law.

Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson is expected to rule Tuesday. That’s just five weeks before voters decide whether to re-elect President Barack Obama, a Democrat, or replace him with Mitt Romney, a Republican.

Simpson said he was considering invalidating a narrow portion of the law for the Nov. 6 election. An appeal is possible.

The law was opposed furiously by Democrats and has been a valuable Democratic Party tool to motivate volunteers and campaign contributions.

Republicans, too, have issued fundraising appeals highlighting legal challenges to the law, and the party would likely add a court defeat to its rallying cry.

For now, top-of-the-ticket Republican candidates are trailing in polls.