I didn't vote for Perry in the primary for that very reason. I went to college with Platts. I couldn't stand him 30 years ago and I can't stand him today. By the way, his last vote was for Boehner to be speaker. Add to the fact that Platts condones faggots being priests in the Episcopal Church and you really have a better understanding of him.
So, yes it is a pleasant surprise.
Because PA 19 is mostly Conservative, he had to usually vote that way on most legislation in order to keep his job. But, being first and foremost a loyal party guy with a lot of friends "across the aisle," he didn't like it, and openly complained about it to his constituents.
During the 2009 healthcare debacle, he actually told people that he wished that McCain had picked Joe Lieberman as his VP running mate rather than Palin. I heard him say this myself during that particular meeting, and after he had given her a rousing introduction at her October 26, 2008 Shippensburg rally.
I never had much use for him after that.