LEFTOVERS: An open GOP primary in the 8th, Sestak on DADT

The Bucks County GOP is not endorsing a candidate for the 8th Congressional District.

That’s the word out of their meeting Thursday night. The endorsement was effectively former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick’s for the taking. But with some grassroots conservatives wary of his changed positions on the Employee Free Choice Act and other issues, not to mention the harsh political climate for “establishment” candidates, Fitzpatrick called for the party to forgo an endorsement. Despite some early…

March 5, 2010 at 1:52 am | Comments (3)

The brewing battle in the 8th (Updated)

CORRECTION APPENDED (See bottom)

TV journalist Larry Kane said this week that the race in the 8th District will be “one of the greatest congressional congressional races in the nation”—and that it will end with a “razor-thin margin.”

I agree, and former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick will be the one to pull it out over incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy. [Disclosure: I work for one of Murphy's Republican opponents, former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick.] Overnight…

February 24, 2010 at 12:27 pm | Comments (13)

LEFTOVERS: No MTP debate, Welch the author, Carlineo chimes in

Joe Sestak kept the heat on Arlen Specter Friday for agreeing to only one more televised debate between now and primary day, with the latest ammunition coming from a report that Specter had turned down a chance to debate in his primary challenger on Meet the Press.

“Arlen Specter’s sense of entitlement is typical of a 30-year Washington insider,” campaign spokesman Jonathon Dworkins said in a statement. “His refusal to defend his…

February 19, 2010 at 5:10 pm | Comments (12)

THE PRESS ROOM: Local blogs spring up to slam candidates

An occasional series of articles exploring how political campaigns are playing out in the media—in print, on the air, online and behind the scenes.

Think pa2010.com is catering to a narrow niche? Think again.

A plethora of new Web sites are sprouting up in the blogosphere, mostly as vehicles to bash candidates loathed by their authors, but sometimes just to cover a particular race from a certain ideological view. Whether these blogs will play any…

February 15, 2010 at 12:00 pm | Comments (8)

As Tea Party candidates multiply, GOP looks to be the umbrella

PHILADELPHIA—As the conservative Tea Party movement has evolved into a political force across the country, its early reputation, deserved or not, has been one of making it harder for Republicans to win elections. But as Tea Party candidates proliferate in congressional races across Pennsylvania, the state Republican Party is making a concerted effort to ensure that the diffuse movement will be a political boon instead of a headache.

In more than half-a-dozen House races, there…

February 15, 2010 at 9:15 am | Comments (7)

LEFTOVERS: Dems hit Fitzpatrick, A Philly ward backs Hoeffel & Saidel

Bucks County Democrats on Wednesday criticized former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick for claiming he has “no interest in becoming a professional politician,” unveiling a Web video that juxtaposes the comment with 20 years worth of electoral campaigning as both a candidate and a political operative.

“It’s hard to believe, but Congressman Fitzpatrick, a guy who has been running for political office for 20 years, claimed that he has ‘no interest in becoming a professional politician,’” Neil…

February 10, 2010 at 8:30 pm | Comments (9)

A crowded 8th District primary comes to Philly

CORRECTION APPENDED (See bottom)

PHILADELPHIA—A crowded field of Republican candidates in the 8th Congressional District took on issues of economic and foreign policy here Tuesday, taking turns courting a group of conservative activists at a forum hosted by a coalition of Tea Party groups.

On an evening when candidates from half-a-dozen districts took a stage, the appearance of five candidates underscored again that the primary to take on Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) remains packed, even…

February 9, 2010 at 10:49 pm | Comments (19)

LEFTOVERS: NRCC hypes Fitzpatrick, PA NOW for Hoeffel, postal workers for Sestak

The National Republican Congressional Committee is trying to draw attention to its leading contender in the 8th Congressional District. The NRCC said that former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick had reached “On The Radar” status and is on the way to joining its “Young Guns” program. These different designations are tough to follow, but the NRCC lays out organizational and financial benchmarks for achieving them. And hey, it gets their candidates a mention in the press here…

February 8, 2010 at 6:48 pm | Comments (4)

Fitzpatrick challenges Murphy on campaign spending

Republican Mike Fitzpatrick on Monday challenged Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) to limit himself to spending $1 million in his quest for a third term this year, saying that such a cap would “show respect to the residents of the 8th District who are, in many cases, struggling just to make ends meet.”

The call for all 8th District candidates to limit their electoral seems unlikely to go anywhere; Murphy already had almost $850,000…

February 1, 2010 at 11:47 pm | Comments (8)

In newly-competitive contest, Murphy has $848K

Facing the prospect of a viable Republican challenge that seemed remote only weeks ago, Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) is in the process of refilling campaign coffers that were greatly depleted by a late spending push in 2008.

Murphy raised about $321,000 in the last three months of 2009, finishing the year with about $848,000 in cash on hand, according to campaign finance data. Former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, who Murphy unseated in 2006,…

February 1, 2010 at 9:30 am | Comments (5)