Despite voting for neutrality, Bucks GOPers backing Fitzpatrick at the polls

RICHBORO—Earlier this year, the Bucks County Republican Party voted not to endorse a candidate in the 8th Congressional District primary. But despite that, Republicans working the polls today were highlighting Mike Fitzpatrick’s name on sample ballots, seemingly supporting him over Gloria Carlineo and two other candidates in what could be a violation of party rules.

The local party infrastructure overwhelmingly supports Fitzpatrick, a former one-term congressman. But it opted against a formal endorsement, partly at the behest of Fitzpatrick, who was clearly concern about being seen as an establishment candidate in a decidedly anti-establishment year.

The election day activity was first pointed out by Carlineo, who for months has been Fitzpatrick’s staunchest critic and most serious opponent. In a statement to reporters Tuesday, Carlineo said that party officials were handing out sample ballots with Fitzpatrick’s name circled, a copy of which she provided. She also pointed out that some ballots have Fitzpatrick’s name highlighted. How widespread the activity is remained unclear, but of three polling stations visited by a pa2010.com reporter in Richboro, two were providing sample ballots with Fitzpatrick’s name highlighted.

In her statement, Carlineo called it a party-wide “FitzFlop,” a reference her frequent criticism of the public policy issues on which Fitzpatrick has shifted since his time in Congress.

“Despite issuing a very public non-endorsement in the 8th Congressional District in March and continuing the ‘public’ appearance of not favoring one candidate over the others, the Bucks County Republican Party distributed several thousand ‘Official Republican Sample Ballots”‘ with Mike Fitzpatrick’s name circled as if to imply an official endorsement,” Carlineo said. “As a candidate and a Solebury Republican Committeewoman, I am deeply disturbed to see that the party by-laws have been completely disregarded in such a flagrant fashion. The distribution of the ‘Sample Ballot’ is just one of the many instances that I have witnessed over the past number of weeks where the elected GOP leadership is attempting to impose their preference in the 8th Congressional District campaign.

“It is no wonder that people are tired of the dirty politics displayed by some GOP leaders, particularly when shenanigans like this are employed,” she added. “When will the back room deals stop? I wonder if some of the recent sole source contracts recently given to ‘Party Activists’ had anything to do with the barefaced ‘FitzFlop’ committed by the party.”

Fitzpatrick is widely considered the front-runner in Tuesday’s primary, thanks to a significant financial advantage, greater name recognition and deeper organizational support. Incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy’s district is ranked No. 10 on the pa2010.com Congressional Power Rankings.

Eric Katz reported from Richboro and Dan Hirschhorn reported from Philadelphia.