send to a friend | print | comment
DelCo GOP head says Meehan has ‘inside track’ on PA-7
Delaware County GOP chairman Tom Judge on Tuesday confirmed the growing insider chatter that former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan is almost certainly running for Congress in the 7th District, and called Meehan the early odds-on-favorite to win both the party’s nomination and general election next year.
“It’s a tremendous upswing for us, because he’s a knowledgeable candidate, he knows the district well, and his name-ID is very big,” Judge told pa2010.com. “Pat Meehan certainly has the inside track.”
Meehan announced last week that he was “seriously considering” a bid to replace exiting incumbent Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7), capping two months of of speculation that he was moving away from his previous gubernatorial aspirations. Almost from the moment of his campaign’s announcement Friday, local Republicans said they considered his candidacy to be definite.
Whether Republican Steven Welch will bow out of the primary still remains unclear. Meehan and Welch are supposed to meet soon. Judge, who said he had spoken to Meehan and was also in touch with Welch, said he would not pressure the Phoenixville businessman out of the race.
“That’ll be Steve’s decision,” Judge said.
But in a not-so-subtle invitation, Judge added: “If he wants to pursue other opportunities, I’ll help him.”
August 12, 2009 at 7:30 am
Tags: PA-7, Pat Meehan, Steven Welch
Leave a Reply
pa2012.com blogs
Red in a Sea of Blue
Purple in Pennsylvania
The Latest from @pa2012 news
More UpdatesStay connected with pa2012.com:
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Dave
Aug 12th, 2009
I for one hope Welsh stays in the race. Not to diminish his accomplishments as a prosecutor, but Meehan is not the future of the Republican Party, he’s simply the ‘default’ candidate. If the Republicans really want to capture the 7th back, and keep it, they’ve got to come up with young inspiring candidates who can capture the imagination and passion of the moderates who fell in love with Obama. Losing the 7th to Sestak was not a fluke, it was the tip of the iceberg if the GOP doesn’t adjust it’s strategy. Welsh is the future of a party that embraces moderates and the majority of voters in the 7th district without sacrificing fiscally responsible ideals. With noted Bush connections I just don’t see Meehan doing that.
Where's Pat??
Sep 2nd, 2009
Has anyone heard, seen, talked to Pat Meehan?? Is he going to run for Congress or no? Is he announcing, and if so when? Has he raised money, was he at the Billy Meehan clambake for starters as SEPA staple if you’re running for something. I’m beginning to wonder…or maybe it’s just timing and those of us who think he ought to get on with leading want him get to it, before someone takes the mantle from him…
Cromagnon
Sep 9th, 2009
Sestak won the seat because he talked right and voted left in a Democratic year, 2006. Meehan would wax anyone in that district, including Sestak in 2010.