Posted on 08/01/2008 9:53:21 AM PDT by smoothsailing
August 1, 2008 - 9:21am
After retiring from the military, Russell joins his own campaign
By Alex Roarty
UNIONTOWN -- Bill Russell knows how to make an entrance.
Now can he do the seemingly impossible?
Just past midnight Friday, the Republican congressional candidate literally roared into his first campaign event in three months, driving his motorcycle into the center of Uniontown with the help of the military veterans biker group "Rolling Thunder."
After shaking hands with many of the 40 supporters gathered to greet him, Russell wasted little time taking aim at his opponent, U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown). In a prepared 15-minute speech, the candidate said Murtha's 30-year tenure in Washington had warped his values and put him "out of touch" with the 12th Congressional District.
"Americans throughout this district, and indeed throughout this nation, have joined me in saying that we want our country back from career Washington politicians who have lost touch with people back home," Russell said. "Liberty was born in Pennsylvania. Let us join together and give it a rebirth, today."
Russell still faces a Herculean task to defeat a political institution like Murtha, but Friday's event was his first attempt to capitalize in person on a campaign that has already received more national attention and fundraising dollars than anybody expected.
Russell has had an unusual campaign -- the former Lt. Colonel has not been a part of his own campaign the past 90 days while on active duty in the U.S. Army. Military rules forbid personnel from participating in any kind of politics.
After officially retiring Thursday in Washington, D.C., Russell did not and will not waste any time returning to the campaign that has been run exclusively by Campaign Manager Peg Luksik in his absence. After his midnight event here, Russell was scheduled to appear on a talk radio show at 7:30 a.m. before taking part in a full-day of campaigning.
"I told him, 'You better have slept before you got here,'" Luksik said.
RELATED on PolitickerPA.com:
Russell camp: $400K raised in July
Send tips to alex.roarty@politickerpa.com
Excellent.
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Short list ping
40 supporters? Good luck.
Awesome! He sounds like a great candidate and hopefully will bump that communist Murtha out of the House!
Fellow Southwestern Pa resident here and a lot of us are cheering Bill on!! He needs to have some coordinated events with the biggest talkers in the area (Quinn and Rose). He could get interviewed by them on the radio and I’m sure they would speak at events for him if asked. In 2006 they worked pretty hard for Diana Orey. It’s too bad she didn’t beat him.
I wish I lived in Bucks County. It’s not only gorgeous and historic, but I’d never stop working for Russell!
Since Iraq is not quite the hot button issue it was in '06, maybe Russell gets a bit more traction than Diana Irey did.
Not bad for ‘just past midnight’.
Thanks, bassmaner! If anyone deserves to be run out of Washington it’s al Murthawi.
I loved him when he played for the Celtics.
Bucks County would put you on the wrong side of the state. The 12th Pennsylvania congressional district is located in southwestern Pennsylvania. It consists of all of Greene County, and parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties. Yes, it is a very oddly shaped district, drawn to help Murtha, since it takes in traditionally Democrat areas and leaves the more conservative, Republican areas in other districts.
Name recognition helps. :-)
When I was there I saw Murtha billboards so I figured he repped Bucks. But all of Pennsylvania is so beautiful (except for Philly) I’d live anywhere.
Bucks County is north of Philly and borders the Delaware.
Altoona is in SW PA, Uniontown is even further SW.
Thanks.
Love Bill Russell!! His campaign manager Peg Luksik is also wonderful!!
Honest, will BR be joining Peg on your 8/24 show?
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