My thing is that if he runs for the House, he’ll be wasted. If he wins, he’ll simply be a marginalized voice on illegals, as the media has successfully done to Tancredo (although Tancredo hasn’t always helped himself - as with his ill-advised Miami stunt). Becoming Governor of PA would be a much more high-profile bully pulpit for Barletta (and we really don’t have a bonafide “heir apparent” for the Governorship in 2010).
Barletta can serve two years in the House and then run for either the open governorship or open Senate seat in 2010. I think he would be “wasted” more by serving as mayor from 2009-2011 instead of in Congress.
I think it would be difficult for Barletta to get the GOP gubernatorial or Senate nomination in 2010 from the mayorship of Hazleton, whereas being in Congress would give him greater exposure.