Posted on 06/19/2006 1:52:37 PM PDT by Coop
...[n]ational Democrats aren’t too worried about losing the seat, citing the district’s safe Democrat rating, Murtha’s record, and his long-term incumbency.
Jon Delano, a one-time Democratic congressional candidate who is now a political commentator for KDKA TV in Pittsburgh, said beating the 16-term incumbent would be tough for any candidate,...
“Most of his time isn’t spent in the district talking about the war in Iraq, he’s handing out checks,” Delano said. “Because of his national image, people outside this region might think all Jack Murtha talks about is the War in Iraq. Locally, he’s identified far more with helping entities, institutions, and groups get federal money.”
And even if constituents disagree with his views... “No one is going to suggest that Murtha is anti-American or anti-defense; it doesn’t play. People out here know him too well,”
... Irey said. “He’s been in there 32 years and spent so much time in Washington D.C. that he’s lost touch with the values of the voters of the district,” she said.
In the backlash against Murtha’s statements on the war, Irey says her campaign has drummed up national support and that she’s taken contributions from 48 states. One man in Virginia has started a Web site that lists more than 400 veterans as supporters.
Irey has also met with the [NRCC]. “She’s very confident; an elected official already,” NRCC Spokesman Ed Patru said. “We came away very impressed.”
The NRCC will make funding decisions for this race after Labor Day but supports candidates who build strong campaigns...
Irey said she’s working diligently to build name recognition. She travels around the district, speaking with voters and sending literature wherever she can.
But the geography of the district, spread over nine counties, could work against her campaign...
(Excerpt) Read more at cqpolitics.com ...
The fundraising numbers were before Murtha's latest barrage of verbal vomit. It's since that time that Ms. Irey's has received donations nationwide and even from our troops in Iraq.
And this article did not cover the main point in Murtha's problem - his pronouncement of guilt in declaring that Marines had committed cold-blooded murder.
These people are fooling themselves if they think Murtha's coasting to re-election again.
I'll be watching.
IOW, he's known for buying votes, and that will keep him in office. It's hard to get politically dispassionate people to give up their gubmint money--after all, they deserve it.
Rush even mentioned her today. Sounded like he hadn't heard of her until recently. Need to get her name out there. And Rush is right. "She's a babe!!!"
Rush was calling her a babe today.
Are you on the "inside" of her campaign? I'm just curious how her fundraising is going.
"Rush even mentioned her today. Sounded like he hadn't heard of her until recently. Need to get her name out there. And Rush is right. "She's a babe!!!"
Thats the way Rush plays it.
He bides his time on a subject so as to not dilute it's impact then delivers it at the right moment as a fresh, exciting story.
He must have felt now was the time to give her a push, to maximize the momentum.
That means he sees hope in that race.
He's counting on people being bought off. It has worked for him before, but that was befoe his vile comments about our troops.
I couldn't say for sure, but I'd bet that he district has a lot of veterans and lots of active duty troops. After all, the district covers 9 counties in the "T".
That's the section between Pittsburgh and Philly that is sometimes referred to as Alabama because of it conservative, religious, and patriotic people. I just can't imagine that his comments are playing well there.
He's not a very likeable thug.
Vet Signed In Bump
If Irey wins, it will be a giant blow against the, "cut and run/immediate redeployment" factions. She is a big longshot and a victory by her cannot be mistaken for anything but a repudiation of Murtha's position on the War.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
Any polls yet?
If she can pull it off, it's gonna be sooooooo sweet to watch the libs have a coniption fit over Murtha getting beat. The electoral message will be loud and clear...DO NOT DEFAME OUR MILITARY...OR MESS WITH OUR FOREIGN POLICY. Anti-American Lib's need not apply...
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