Even under scruity, few see Murtha as vulnerable

With Congressman John Murtha (D-12) embroiled in a lobbying scandal, under fire from military groups and again facing the same challenger who opposed him last year, it’s easy to see the longtime incumbent as vulnerable in 2010. But with more than three decades of political entrenchment on his side, even many Republicans are hesitant to say his days are numbered.

“The problem is he’s done personal favors for just about every man, woman and child over the years, and that makes him tough to beat,” GOP political consultant Charlie Gerow said.

When asked to evaluate Murtha’s political standing, state Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason demonstrated just how powerful Murtha is.

“I don’t like to make any comments about Congressman Murtha because I live in his district,” Gleason said with a chuckle, before acknowledging that the demographics in Murtha’s 12th Congressional District are “really tough.”

Considering the headlines, one might expect Murtha’s opponents to be going for the jugular. After drawing fierce criticism in 2006 for saying that Marines in Haditha had killed Iraqi civillians “in cold blood,” Murtha is now caught up in a lobbying scandal. Paul Magliocchetti, a lobbyist with close ties to Murtha, is under investigation for allegedly funneling Murtha-earmarked defense projects to clients in exchange for campaign contributions to the longtime western Pennsylvania Congressman. Murtha has not been accused of wrongdoing, and while he has largely stayed quiet on the issue, he did break his silence to offer The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette an interesting defense.

“If I’m corrupt, it’s because I take care of my district,” Murtha told the newspaper. “My job as a member of Congress is to make sure that we take care of what we see is necessary. Not the bureaucrats who are unelected over there in whatever White House, whether it’s Republican or Democrat. Those bureaucrats would like to control everything. Every president would like to have all the power and not have Congress change anything. But we’re closest to the people.”

Murtha spokesman Matthew Mazonkey said the Congressman was ready for any challenger.

“Congressman Murtha has been serving his country and constituents for 35 years in Congress,” Mazonkey said. “He understands the issues western Pennsylvanians care about and he works continually with our local officials to create a better quality of life for our region.”

If there were ever a year to unseat Murtha, 2010 would seem to the time. With Democrats in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, at least some level of movement back to the GOP is inevitable. And whereas his opponent last year, Bill Russell, surged late in the campaign thanks to racially-charged comments by Murtha, this time his campaign has started immediately. Russell barely took time to absorb his 15-point loss in November before starting his campaign right back up.

“After taking a couple days, I realized I needed to run again, considering the extreme liberal bent [President] Obama and this Congress are taking,” Russell said in a recent phone interview.

Peg Luksik, a Republican candidate for Senate who managed Russell’s campaign last year, said Russell’s momentum from last year would translate into a win next year.

“For Bill Russell, this is finishing the campaign he started in 2008,” Luksik said.

But few are so confident Murtha can be beat.

“[Murtha] did about everything he could to lose that race,” Muhlenberg College pollster Chris Borick said of last year’s contest. “I just don’t see it happening.”