Dent is pro-abortion, and Casey would use that fact to get conservative Democrats to vote for him despite his liberal voting record in the Senate. As in WV, we need someone in PA who can run to the right of the “pro-life” Dem.
I think that Barletta should run.
Barletta’s a fighter, that’s for sure. Don’t know how well he is known throughout the state, but Dent probably isn’t that well known either. I believe the redistricting plan is to shore up Barletta’s district by pulling in some GOP voters from PA-10 and PA-17. I think they’re trying to concentrate more Democrats in PA-17, basically ceding it to Holden for the near term. Haven’t heard if that’s final yet.
Dent does well in a district that leans Dem. There are a lot of socially liberal Republicans in the Lehigh Valley and a fair number of fiscally conservative Democrats as well, so Dent owns the middle.
Wish Mark Schweiker would give it a go. He was pretty popular here when he served out Ridge’s term.