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Meehan now ‘seriously considering’ Congressional run

Two months after pa2010.com reported that former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan was eyeing a House run in the 7th District instead of a gubernatorial bid, Meehan’s campaign Friday signaled that he was increasingly leaning in that direction.

“Pat received a warm reception from people of all walks of life as he explored a run for governor,” Meehan spokeswoman Virginia Davis said in a statement. “And during this past year, he has become uniquely attuned to the concerns of Pennsylvania citizens in these tough economic times. Pat is more committed than ever to helping return Pennsylvania to a path of prosperity, and he is now seriously considering a run for congress in the Seventh Congressional District to fulfill that commitment. Pat Meehan will be encouraging Attorney General Tom Corbett in his expected run for governor and looks forward to working with his supporters.”

The statement, released partly in response to continued press inquiries about Meehan’s intentions, was a significant shift for his campaign, which had repeatedly stressed that his focus was on building a run for Governor. In going so far as to say he was “encouraging” GOP front-runner Corbett in his efforts to retake the Governor’s Mansion, the Meehan campaign sent the strongest signal yet that regardless of the House run, he is likely to formally drop out of contention in the gubernatorial race soon.

With Republican leaders eager to win next year’s governor’s race and seeing Corbett as the strongest candidate, Meehan had been under increasing pressure to step aside. Many had encouraged him to join Corbett on the ticket as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor, and even former Senator Rick Santorum, a Meehan ally, recently said the longtime prosecutor should look at the Congressional race.

With incumbent Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) having declared his Senate candidacy Tuesday, the seat is now wide open for Republicans, and that may have been the turning point for Meehan. He is seen as a fearsome candidate by many Democrats, who privately wonder if anyone in their party could beat him. Businessman Steven Welch has already declared his candidacy for the GOP nod, but there is quiet speculation that he might step aside if Meehan, a former Delaware County District Attorney with longstanding ties in the area, thows his hat into the ring.

State Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) is running for the Democratic nomination, and state Represenative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) is also considering the race.

A Congressional run would not be without immediate logistical challenges for the Meehan campaign. It has raised significant funds under the lax state campaign finance rules, and would have to return much of that money before soliciting campaign contributions that are far more limited under federal law.

•Also on pa2010.com: Meehan mulling a run for Sestak’s Congressional seat

August 7, 2009 at 6:05 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: PA-7, Pat Meehan, Steven Welch

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