Five Pennsylvania Districts On Rove's Radar
Crooks and Liars has a video of GSA head Lurita Doan squirming to explain an illegal poliitcal meeting she led targeting Congressional races. The meeting used federal resources and time and she participated, something which is prohibited under the Hatch Act. Watching her trying to escape the uncomforatble questions is riveting. They have her dead to rights so she gets a sudden case of amnesia.
The video shows two slides, one listing Districts the GOP is hoping to defend and another of seats they hope to pick up in 2008. Five Pennsylvania Congressional Districts are depicted: PA-06: James Gerlach (defend) PA-04: Jason Altmire (attack) PA-07: Joe Sestak (attack) PA-08: Patrick Murphy (attack) PA-10: Chris Carney (attack) None of this is shocking news. Gerlach's District is vulnerable and at least three potential candidates are lining up. None of them currently live in the District. They are Erik Saar, Joe Torsella and actress Melissa Fitzgerald. Saar is in the process of relocating to the area his wife is from (Berks County). Torsella ran against Allyson Schwartz for the 13th CD and Fitzgerald, according to her website, resides in Los Angeles.
The others were the Democratic pick-ups last year and any first term Congressman is vulnerable. I doubt they can mount a good race against Sestak and Murphy is creating a high profile in his first term. He might survive unless he's flooded out. Carney won in a very Republican area but has the charisma and centrist credentials to survive. None of the Republican names surfacing seems to be a credible threat. Altmire should be able to defend his seat. Though not a progressive he's a breath of fresh air after the extremism of Melissa Hart.
What is Erik Saar's background? Torsella lost to Schwartz in a primary? Do you know whether Fitzgerald even has a residence in the 6th at this point(a 2nd house kind of thing)? I live in the 6th, that is why I ask all these questions. I am sick of Gerlach skating by.
Posted by: Ghost of Tom Joad | March 28, 2007 at 10:37 PM
John, I'm surprised Dent's District isn't listed as one to defend. I wonder if the GOP considers his seat safe. If so, they're making a mistake.
Posted by: Bernie O'Hare | March 29, 2007 at 12:01 AM
To expand on O'Hare's post, I hope the gop does consider the 15th safe for dent. Dent, very much like specter, talks middle ground, but votes with bush well into the 90% range. Yet this area, like the state, is very purple and a good opponent could really put dent on the hot seat based on his voting record.
Several names, both from the area (Valley people wouldn't readily accept an outsider moving in), have been mentioned and either one could probably send charlie dent home.
Here's another hope... that the DNC and others recognize this as a real potential win, and put some money into it.
dg
Posted by: dennis g. | March 29, 2007 at 04:47 AM
First of all Erik is a regular reader of this blog. He was an Army linguist at Guantanamo Bay interviewing detainees. He was so upset from that experience he wrote a book called "Inside the Wire." He is a counter terrorism expert. His wife is from West Lawn and they're in the process of settling down there.
Fitzgerald's father is the Judge just appointed to fill out a term on the state Supreme Court. I'm not aware of her having a residence in the 6th. She played C.J. Cregg's assistant on "The West Wing."
Posted by: John Morgan | March 29, 2007 at 08:08 AM
As an editorial note, I've known this information for some time but could not write it because of it's confidential nature. Now that I received it from an independent source I can reveal the potential candidates.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 29, 2007 at 08:11 AM
West Lawn is in the 6th? How will he garner support in Montco?
Posted by: chris | March 29, 2007 at 01:44 PM