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Meehan makes Congressional run official (Updated)

DREXEL HILL—Addressing a throng of supporters on his family’s front lawn here, former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan formally announced his candidacy for Congress Monday, setting up one of the most competitive House races in the country.

“I think we’re in for one donnybrook of a general election,” said political scientist G. Terry Madonna. “This is gonna be one of the most watched, most fascinating contests in the country. It’s in a swing state, in a swing region, in a major media market.”

Meehan entered the contest five weeks after signaling that he would abandon his gubernatorial aspirations, and just a couple days after fellow Republican Steven Welch bowed out of the 7th District race for Meehan, the party’s preferred candidate.

“It is time our elected officials be made to answer for the decisions they make about our money and about our children’s future,” Meehan said on a sunny morning, his family behind him.

“Ladies and gentleman, family and friends, I am officially declaring my candidacy for the United State Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th District,” he said to applause.

In his brief speech, Meehan criticized the growth of the federal government and decried the debt he said current spending would bequeath to the next generation of Americans. The former Delaware County District Attorney continued a day-long announcement tour with two more events in Chester and Montgomery counties, which make up the rest of the district.

“I have looked the citizens of this Commonwealth in the eye as they have shared with me their deepest fears and their greatest hopes,” Meehan said. “They have told me they felt as if their voice just isn’t being heard in Washington, that the representatives they have elected have sold them out to the special interests, that government now seems to be something that is imposed on them, rather than something that is working for them.”

For months, Meehan had been moving full-speed toward a run at the Governor’s Mansion. He signaled last month that he was abandoning those efforts in favor of a bid for Congressman Joe Sestak’s House seat (Sestak is running for Senate). And while his decision came after significant pressure from party leaders who favor state Attorney General Tom Corbett, Meehan played down that factor to reporters after his announcement, focusing instead on how the inaction in Harrisburg compares with the flurry of legislation flying through Washington.

“There was never any kind of pressure,” he insisted. “It’s just a great opportunity, a choice of how best you feel you can serve the constituents of your district and the people of Pennsylvania. And I’m really excited about the opportunity to go to Congress … where I think a real difference can be made. Look at Harrisburg, there’s very little that appears to happen, but if you look at Washington, there’s too much happening.”

It seems unlikely that Meehan will be seriously challenged in the Republican primary. No other candidate is currently in the race, and with GOP leaders exercising a tight grip over local political in Delaware County, it would be difficult to run against Meehan next spring. Hurrying to his next event, Meehan cut short a session with reporters before he could be asked about state Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware), who is, at the moment, the Democrat most likely to face Meehan next November (state Representative Greg Vitali is also considering the race).

But Vince Galko, a political consultant to Meehan, said of Lentz: “He’s obviously working hard.”

In a brief interview with pa2010.com Monday afternoon, Lentz avoided commenting on Meehan specifically.

“I’m looking forward to what I think is going to be a real vigorous debate about what the challenges facing the country are, regardless of who my opposition is,” he said.

Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan talks to a supporter after announcing his candidacy in Drexel Hill on Monday.

September 14, 2009 at 11:26 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Bryan Lentz, Greg Vitali, PA-7, Pat Meehan

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