Whether Fitzpatrick got in or not the field had to narrow. I just hope there’s still a choice at primary time. I’ll vote for just about any of the remaining candidates except for Fitzpatrick (and of course Lingenfelter, the perennial candidate) if someone else is still in the race. Fitzpatrick is part of the problem, not part of the solution. What did he do in congress to reduce spending when he was there before? And he’s already lost to Murphy once.
His main plus is the support of the GOP leaders in Doylestown, and that’s actually more of a negative than a positive.

Yes Fitz is a loser. There will be no primary King Harry won’t have any of that nonsense. He has made up his mind and that is that. I can’t believe Buck’s republicans continue to put up with Faulks.

Fitz is NOT a loser (I agree that Mike is a gentleman and good guy, but so is Jimmy Carter), though I will likely wind up supporting one of these other candidates. I have had enough of the Doylestown Mafia running the GOP in Bucks County. I hope and believe that at least one of these other candidates will stay in until the primary.

If Fitzpatrick had entered the race in the Fall, few if any of the PA-8 candidates would have run for the office. Fitz has never lost an election in Bucks County – his Congressional loss was due to MontCo and Philly segments of the 8th. He has learned from that experience, and I doubt he’ll repeat mistakes in this cycle that cost him the last election.

I understand frustration with incumbents, but it’s silly to tear down the strongest candidate in PA-8 when he is conservative, well liked, and is the only guy left who has the means of running and financing a successful campaign.

Change in 2010 (ironic name for someone who wants more of the same from the local GOP), you fail to mention that Mike has never faced a real primary and was annoited the GOP candidate by Harry Fawkes every single time. Read today’s editorial in the Intelligencer re a GOP candidate who bucked the local GOP’s endorsement.

Murphy is going to be able to effectively paint Fitz as a Bush Republican. As part of a Bush Congress that grew government and initiated reckless spending (including plenty of Fitz earmarks), Fitz has little to no appeal to independents. Why not go with a candidate who does not have to defend such a liberal record and who will energize both the GOP and independents? If it is Murphy v. Fitz, I fear that Murphy will win. Unfortunately, Doylestown Mafia would rather lose with their “golden boy” than allow someone outside their control a chance to beat Murphy. Vote them all out and start over!