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Fitzpatrick challenges Murphy on campaign spending

Fitzpatrick challenges Murphy on campaign spending

Republican Mike Fitzpatrick on Monday challenged Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) to limit himself to spending $1 million in his quest for a third term this year, saying that such a cap would “show respect to the residents of the 8th District who are, in many cases, struggling just to make ends meet.”

The call for all 8th District candidates to limit their electoral seems unlikely to go anywhere; Murphy already had almost $850,000 in campaign cash at the end of 2009. At it’s almost unthinkable that Fitzpatrick, the GOP front-runner who’s seeking a rematch against Murphy after losing his seat to the Iraq War veteran in 2006, would limit his spending if Murphy doesn’t do the same. But the rhetoric reflected a political climate in which challengers are seeking an anti-business-as-usual message, even if it’s one with little tangible impact.

“Certainly I have demonstrated that I can raise the funds necessary to compete in the district,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement. “However, I hope that Patrick Murphy will agree that this limit would demonstrate the fiscal responsibility often espoused by candidates but rarely practiced by politicians.”

A Murphy spokeswoman did not immediately comment.

share001btn Fitzpatrick challenges Murphy on campaign spending

February 1, 2010 at 11:47 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

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  1. Fitzpatrick Challenges Murphy On Campaign Spending | Bucks Right

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    [...] Fitzpatrick Challenges Murphy On Campaign Spending Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 2:14 am Posted by Steven in Pennsylvania 0 Comments Days after calling for an open primary in which all Republicans would have an equal chance of facing Democrat Patrick Murphy in November, Mike Fitzpatrick is acting an awful lot like the presumptive nominee, engaging Murphy directly and saying he will limit his campaign spending to $1 million if Murphy will do the same. [...]

  2. David Diano

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    TO Mike Fitzpatrick-
    I think you have such a fabulous idea that you should suggest it for Jim Gerlach and Pat Meehan.
    I’m sure they would appreciated it, though I doubt their response would be fit to print.

    This idea is so dumb, I’m surprised it didn’t come from the Sestak campaign.

  3. Bucks Voter

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    Not so fast Mike – I don’t think you are going to get past the GOP primary. Regardless of what your paid political machine is saying, independents don’t like you and you will get killed in November without them. Yes, GOP party people love you but don’t believe your own hype.

  4. Ed H.

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    When Fitzpatrick limited his campaign funds because Murpky couldn’t match them in 2006….

    Oh. Fitzpatrick didn’t limit the spending back then??

    Heh.

  5. Brian Kline

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    This attack against Murphy is lame and reminiscent of some underfunded challenger unaware that the Philadelphia media market is the fourth-most expensive in the nation. Once again Fitzpatrick is trying to position himself as some outsider never having set foot in Washington. The whole narrative is weak and unbelieviable.

  6. David Diano

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    Mike-
    I think the Sestak campaign is hiring. You’d fit right in.

  7. Bucks Voter

    Feb 2nd, 2010

    Why won’t pa2010 provide much coverage on the non-Fitzpatrick GOP candidates in PA-08 … unless one of them drops out to endorse Fitzpatrick:

    http://www.pa2010.com/2010/01/another-republican-steps-aside-for-fitzpatrick/

    In PA-07, pa2010 will run an article with photo of a candidate who has raised less than $3k:

    http://www.pa2010.com/2010/01/conner-has-less-than-3k-on-hand/

    And if Fitzpatrick sneezes, it’s a headline in pa2010. Could this bias for Fitzpatrick be based upon the fact that pa2010′s Beth H. is a consultant on the Fitzpatrick campaign:

    http://www.pa2010.com/2010/01/fitzpatrick-starts-campaign-with-significant-infrastructure/

    Sure, Mike’s a former Congressman and the Doylestown GOP mafia loves him. However, pa2010 is missing a good story as these other GOP candidates fight Fitzpatrick in the primary.

    Fair and balanced coverage please.

  8. Howard

    Feb 4th, 2010

    There are plenty of good candidates in this race. The open primary is healthy. They just need some press and name recognition.

    http://www.carlineo4congress.com

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