Altmire’s camp not talking politics yet

Most elected officials facing challenges in the fall are already publicly framing the debate against their opponents. Not Congressman Jason Altmire (D-4).

Altmire’s campaign has been relatively quiet since Republican Keith Rothfus won the May primary and the chance to challenge him in November. And when it comes to dealing with the media, Altmire’s camp has decided that for now, silence is golden. Campaign manager Rachael Heisler confirmed this week that the campaign simply isn’t…

June 21, 2010 at 12:14 pm | Comments (1)

Rothfus: Altmire’s votes against health care won’t kill the subject

Some Republican challengers whose Democratic opponents voted against health care reform appear ready to let the issue take a political backseat in November. Not Keith Rothfus.

Rothfus, the GOP nominee in the 4th District, still has plenty to say about Congressman Altmire’s (D-4) two votes against the measure. In a recent interview with pa2010.com, Rothfus noted that Altmire was one of the last lawmakers to stay on the fence during the acrimonious debate, calling that…

June 17, 2010 at 11:31 am | Comments (9)

Altmire’s possible labor pains

One labor leader was so incensed with Congressman Jason Altmire’s (D-4) opposition to health care reform that considered a run against the sophomore lawmaker. Ultimately, Jack Shea opted against the uphill battle of an independent or write-in campaign—but that doesn’t mean he’s embracing Altmire ahead of the November election.

In a recent interview with pa2010.com, Shea reiterated his dissatisfaction with Altmire’s health care votes, and predicted that the congressman might struggle to rally…

June 7, 2010 at 1:45 pm | Comments (3)

Pols pass on a chance to hang with Obama

Elected officials aren’t exactly tripping over themselves to spend time with President Obama during his visit to Pittsburgh Wednesday.

The Tribune-Review

June 2, 2010 at 10:25 am | Comments (18)

GOPer says Altmire ‘walking on egg shells’—Altmire camp not biting

Keith Rothfus and his Republican supporters in the 4th Congressional District are already talking some trash ahead of the November showdown with incumbent Democrat Jason Altmire. But Altmire’s campaign, at least for now, is staying out of the fray.

“The Congressman is focused on doing the job he was elected to do, and won’t be responding to campaign related press inquiries for the time being,” campaign manager Rachael Heisler said in an e-mail this week,…

May 25, 2010 at 7:37 pm | Comments (6)

Rothfus sets sights on Altmire, big spending

When it comes to congressional campaigns, all publicity is not good publicity.

That is the lesson Republicans are taking from the results of last week’s 4th District Republican primary, in which underdog lawyer Keith Rothfus comfortably beat the well-known former U.S. attorney Mary Beth Buchanan. Rothfus secured almost two-thirds of the vote, despite Buchanan’s high level of name recognition in the District.

In that contest, Buchanan’s campaign stayed on the defensive for weeks and committed…

May 24, 2010 at 4:46 pm | Comments (0)

Rothfus: ‘I’m not worthy’

WEXFORD—Before the polls closed Tuesday night, Republican Keith Rothfus said that win or lose, he was feeling one thing: Not worthy.

“I am humbled by the support I’ve received,” the Edgeworth lawyer and 4th District candidate said with a smile here. “I know it sounds cliché, but—I’m not worthy. The people I have met on this campaign—they are just people who believe in this country and believe in what this country can be. And I…

May 19, 2010 at 2:17 pm | Comments (0)

Rothfus beats Buchanan by wide margin

WEXFORD—Keith Rothfus said he just might be able to sleep Tuesday night.

“Relieved is how I feel right now,” he said about an hour after he was declared the winner of the 4th District Republican primary. “But now we have even more work to do.”

After keeping former U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan on the defensive for weeks, Rothfus easily sent her packing Tuesday. He won two-thirds of the vote, topping a party-favored candidate with…

May 19, 2010 at 5:15 am | Comments (2)

Buchanan sounds a confident note against Rothfus

PITTSBURGH—Mary Beth Buchanan looked confident from behind the podium. She smiled at the small group of supporters gathered outside the Allegheny County Building here Friday, and began a speech in which she laced into her Republican primary opponent in the 4th District.

“I don’t think this is a close election,” Buchanan, a former U.S. Attorney, said later. “If you go out in the district, you’ll see that many people have no idea why Keith Rothfus…

May 15, 2010 at 8:17 pm | Comments (7)

Rothfus calls Buchanan campaign mailer ‘deceitful’

Republican congressional candidate Keith Rothfus continued what has become a fierce campaign against 4th District primary opponent Mary Beth Buchanan Thursday, criticizing the former U.S. Attorney for using the National Rifle Association’s logo on a piece of campaign literature.

In a statement, the Edgeworth attorney’s campaign called Buchanan “desperate and deceitful” for using the prominent gun lobby’s logo on full story

May 13, 2010 at 5:30 pm | Comments (3)