My intuition tells me that this was simply a political move to allow Mike to have his cake (tell tea partiers that he tried his best) and eat it too (Bucks GOP gets to endorse Mike prior to the primary over Mike’s objection and *wink* *wink* between Mike and local GOP).

I hear that these other GOP candidates folded primarily out of fear of the local GOP. That is, they have long-term GOP political interests in Bucks Country and did not want those aspirations killed by opposing the annointed one.

My take is independents and non-active Republicans in the 8th district want someone other than Mike.

Did you notice the identity of the treasurer of “Paid for by Mike Fitzpatrick for Congress”? John Poprick … as in husband of Pat Poprick, Vice Chair of Bucks County Republican Party. Same old, same old crap. Nothing will change, and Murphy will probably win, unless we get the old guard out of the leadership positions in the Bucks Repub. Party.

Mike Fitzpatrick is perhaps the most well-rounded, best informed, most influential, pragmatic independent conservative who will make a tremendous congressman in the 8th district.

Murphy is an accidental congressman. He won by a fluke in 2006, and has since been 99% absent from the 8th district while chasing around groveling at the feet of his idol Nancy Pelosi.

Fitzpatrick has always been connected with the people inside the 8th district.

Murphy had to move three times just so he could pretend he lived in the district.

dave,
Murphy is an accidental congressman and Fitzpatrick was not? I guess you consider the appointments he’s had to political offices deliberate. He’s nothing but handpicked by the political bosses. We need fresh blood.
Thanks for the info on Poprik, Bucks Voter. Just one more reason I needed not to vote for Fitz. I can only hope that some other candidate holds out until the primary and runs, no matter whether it’s open or closed. I’m tired of being told who can run and who to vote for by a couple of back room dealers in Doylestown.
I agree with Anonymous on his/her take on this.

The candidates who have dropped out of the race do not want to lose a primary. There has been absolutely non pressure for any candidates to drop out. You can only lose elections so many times before you are thought of as a “perennial candidate” and lose credibility with the electorate. All of the candidates who dropped out (Malik, Mitchell and Algeo) are keeping their powder dry. It has nothing to do with party leaders, as all would probably tell you that they were not “asked” to drop out.

I would love to see one of the six remaining candidates give Fitzpatrick a run for his money. Fitzpatrick is a dedicated public servant, but has proven to be a very bland campaigner, and does not set the agenda in a campaign. He has not outlined ideas. Whoever is the GOP candidate must go out and earn it.

It’s time that the conspiracy theories are put to rest about Fawkes, Poprik, McIlhinney and the rest of the GOP leadership.

J.D. Mullane from The Intelligencer had an interesting piece about Fitzpatrick last week. Here’s an excerpt, along with a link:

Last week, I wondered which Mike Fitzpatrick would show up on the campaign trail for Congress. Would it be “Moderate Mike,” circa 2006, proud of his Sierra Club endorsement? Or would it be a persona to fit the times, say “Tea Party Mike,” who recites the 10th Amendment from memory and embraces “Drill, baby, drill.”

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/163/2010/january/26/the-new-mike-1.html

Unfortunately, Mike Fitzpatrick is choice of Earmarking Establishment on Insider Incumbents getting rich from government. The Tea Party movement in various forms are strong in Bucks County. Moderate Mike of 2006 was financed and heavily supported by job destroying unions. Pat Poprick and Party Hacks think the electorate will support any Republican. I think they will find a lack of enthusiasm and energy for Mike Fitzpatrick, a very nice man but not independent of party leadership and not a Free Market Constitutional Limited Government candidate. Will he take the Citizens Against Government Waste Earmark Reform Pledge which, in essence, means No Earmarks?

Wm Hancock-

Hmm. The candidates have gotten no pressure to drop out? Not what I’ve heard.

The last person that should make any comment about Mike Fitz is J D Mullane Mullane is Bucks County’s biggest loser.