[kabar]

I agree 100% with your observations. The GOP is moribund in PA. And you are right on the mark about the GOP selecting candidates who can self-fund. Burns was a poor choice.

Yes, Critz ran as a conservative and will vote as a liberal. He is Murtha's clone. When someone serves as COS and aide for a congressman for 12 years, he is really the alter ego and in many ways runs the show with the congressman as the figurehead. Critz knows the district much better than Burns and had more political connections. The idea that Critz is going to give Pelosi heartburn is ludicrous.

The crux of the matter is that Murtha brought home the pork and the people of PA-12 expect Critz to do the same. It is as simple as that.

The Reps may have a better opportunity to win in November because of turnout and the fact that Critz will have a voting record to campaign against. Still, I am not sanguine about Burns' chances. In hard economic times, those dependent upon the government for their jobs want a congressman who will continue to bring home the bacon.

When you look at the demographics of the district (PA-12), it is easy to see why it remains in the Dem camp, i.e., primarily economics. The minority population is practically nil, but the median income indicates that there are many poor and old people. In fact, PA has one of the oldest populations in the nation.

[MNJohnnie]

Interesting thought for you to ponder. Would be interested in your thoughts.

Lot of Murtha’s clout in PA-12 was based on Defense Contractors.

What happens when the Crtiz type backwook guys in the Democrat Party, who rely heavily on bringing home the Defense pork, run into the Congressional Progressive Democrat leadership's ideological need to gut the US Military budget to fund their Utopian Socialist spending habits?