Poll: 12-term incumbent Kanjorski trails Barletta 44% to 35% (Scranton Times)

Lou Barletta for Congress ^ | September 17, 2008

[Night Conservative]

Republican congressional candidate Lou Barletta has opened a substantial lead over U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski in their battle to represent Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and other local municipalities in Congress, according to a Franklin & Marshall College/Times-Shamrock Newspapers poll.

In a survey of 547 registered voters, Mr. Barletta had the support of 44 percent to 35 percent for Mr. Kanjorski, a Democrat, in their 11th Congressional District race. Another 21 percent were undecided.

The poll is the clearest independent confirmation that Mr. Kanjorski’s re-election is seriously at risk in a year most political experts expect Democrats to do most of the winning.

The poll confirmed Mr. Kanjorski faces by far the stiffest re-election test of his 12-term congressional career from Hazleton’s anti-illegal-immigration crusading mayor.

“I was surprised,” said G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., the director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall and overseer of the poll. “I didn’t think it (the margin) would be that large.”

[Night Conservative]

With Tancredo retiring, Hazelton, PA mayor Lou Barletta could be his replacement.

[Paleo Conservative]

Well if Republicans look like they’re picking up congressional seats in PA, the McCain-Palin ticket is probably doing pretty well too.

[Steely Tom]

Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton are not exactly populated by Thurston Howell III types, if you get my drift.

Traditionally blue-collar, Reagan Democrat territory.

Very, very, very good news.

[Darren McCarty]

Bush got 43% in 2000 and 47% in 2004 there. That's more democrat leaning locally than federally, but that's a normally safe seat. Kanjorski's worst win was in 2002 with 56%. His opponent then was Lou Barletta.

As this is still Molly Maguire country, I'll wait and see with this race, but this is probably the best candidate possible for this area.

[Parley Baer]

Wow, a chance to pick up a RAT seat. How sweet it is.

[KansasCanadian]

Office Ping!

[tcrlaf]

“in a year most political experts expect Democrats to do most of the winning.”

Only because the MEDIA haas saidd so, for two years, fervently trying to wish it in to being.

Just like 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000...

In fact, in EVERY year, as far back as I can remember.

[lmr]

Kanjorski actually was honest when he revealed that Democrats used the war and lied for political gain a few months ago.

[VeniVidiVici]

“With a struggling economy and retirement savings for so many at risk, Pennsylvanians certainly aren’t going to trust their future with Lou Barletta and his dangerous George Bush Social Security privatization scheme,” she said in a statement.

Democrats can be so funny. I'd like to talk to somebody that actually believes this ..stuff.

Kanjorsky is also on record recently by saying he wants a parking garage earmark for the new office complex he built with $3mil in tax dollars. Called what? The Kanjorski Center. Finished three years ago it stands empty.

Kanjorski's new plan to populate the office center? Why, he wants $5mil more of your tax dollars to build a parking garage for it! When told that he can't use transportation tax dollars on a parking garage you know what he said? Here's the money quote!!

"I don't think the rule should be there," Kanjorski said. "I don't think the rule should have any attention paid to it. Becaus in Congress we have our own rules."

So with Democrats like Rangel cheating on his taxes while he writes the tax rules and Kanjorski stealing our tax money on his "parking garage to nowhere" we are on the cusp to put one of these idiots into the White House. I'm just gabberflasted.

Lightfingers Kanjorski