Russell: GOP thought Burns would be ‘more co-optable’

JOHNSTOWN—Bill Russell is either at the beginning or end of a journey he’s been on for more than two years. In 2008, he emerged as a staunch critic of Congressman John Murtha, after Murtha infamously said that Marines in Iraq had killed civilians “in cold blood.” He became a darling of the conservative grassroots. He lost that year, but when Murtha passed away this year, Russell was poised for success.

Then the Republican Party found…

May 16, 2010 at 4:59 pm | Comments (5)

With opponent flooding the airwaves, Russell takes to radio

JOHNSTOWN—Republican Bill Russell became the underdog to win his party’s May 18 primary the moment the GOP nominated Tim Burns to be its candidate for the special election that same day. That dynamic has arguably been further solidified by the fact that Burns, a wealthy businessman, has been flooding local TV with campaign commercials, supplemented by independent expenditures from national Republicans.

But Russell, who has yet to buy his own TV time, is hoping that…

May 3, 2010 at 11:30 am | Comments (0)

12th DISTRICT NOTES: More outside cash, Scott Brown for Burns, a Dem poll

With just over two weeks left until the May 18 special election in the 12th District, there’s a flurry of political action happening from western Pennsylvania to Washington.

Truckloads of money continue to pour into the race in the form of independent expenditures. The National Republican Congressional Committee dropped $231,000 on another media buy Sunday, according to campaign finance data, as well as another $15,000 on polling. The DCCC also kept up its big play,…

May 3, 2010 at 7:45 am | Comments (0)

Russell: Don’t name a ship after Murtha

Republican Bill Russell this week waded into the Navy’s sometimes-controversial decision to name a ship after the late John Murtha, with his campaign calling it an “insult.”

Russell, a darling of some in the conservative grassroots, rose to prominence in 2008 partly because he fiercely spoke out when the the 12th District congressman called Marines involved in an incident in Iraq “cold-blooded killers.” Russell is running for the western Pennsylvania seat for the second time…

May 1, 2010 at 1:04 pm | Comments (3)

Five candidates, two elections, one forum

WESTMONT—Three Democrats and two Republicans competing for the chance to succeed the late John Murtha shared a stage Wednesday evening, during a lightning-round style forum that divided the candidates along predictable ideological lines but also briefly prefaced the bitter debate to come between Republican Tim Burns and Democrat Mark Critz.

The forum, held in a high school auditorium in this borough on the outskirts of Johnstown, featured not only Burns and Critz—the two candidates set…

April 28, 2010 at 9:21 pm | Comments (5)

Conservative PAC advertising for Russell

Republican Bill Russell’s insurgent campaign in the 12th Congressional District is getting some help from a political action committee that advocates for limited government.

Freedom’s Defense Fund, which advertised against Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential race and describes itself as standing “with conservative, pro-freedom candidates against the radical left and their elitist allies in the mainstream media,” is airing a 30-second TV spot in support of Russell in the western Pennsylvania district. The ad…

April 19, 2010 at 10:45 am | Comments (3)

Hit on both sides, Burns focuses on one

Tim Burns is fighting a two-front war in the 12th Congressional District.

On his left looms Mark Critz, riding high after Barbara Hafer’s abrupt withdrawal from the Democratic primary to succeed John Murtha. On his right, fellow Republican Bill Russell

March 29, 2010 at 11:27 am | Comments (7)

For PA-12 hopefuls, not being the special election nominee means a daunting path

When Gov. Ed Rendell decided to hold the 12th Congressional District special election on the same day as the May primary, he was looking to save Pennsylvania the hefty price tag associated with another stand-alone election—not to mention his likely interest in giving his party the edge from the higher turnouts its expecting for competitive statewide primaries.

But his decision also had another consequence—giving the special election candidates in the 12th a huge advantage in…

March 24, 2010 at 3:46 pm | Comments (3)

GOP wants party unity, but Russel’s not budging; will write-in himself for special

After pBut Russell, ever the anti-establishment candidate, is sticking to his guns. He’s continued to criticize the process by which Burns was nominated. He’s preparing to go up against Burns in the May primary to be held the same…

March 22, 2010 at 12:15 pm | Comments (23)

Seeing a tight race, GOP poll forecasts a tough 12th District special for Democrats

Democrat Mark Critz has a statistically insignificant five-point lead over Republican Tim Burns in the looming special election in the 12th Congressional District, but nearly a third of likely voters are undecided and a tough road lies ahead for Democrats in the nationally-watched race, according to a new poll.

The survey, commissioned by The Tribune-Review and conducted by the GOP firm Susquehanna Polling & Research, found Critz winning 36 percent of the vote, compared to…

March 18, 2010 at 12:36 pm | Comments (2)