Pike’s first mailer takes Gerlach to task on Wall Street

Two weeks before primary day, Democratic congressional hopeful Doug Pike is stepping up the effort to raise his name recognition with a campaign mailer that criticizes Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) for taking campaign contributions from financial industry PACs and then opposing regulatory reform.

“Jim Gerlach cashed every single check Wall Street ever wrote for him and voted against Wall Street reform and consumer protection legislation,” the mailer says.

“Doug Pike wants to get our money …

May 3, 2010 at 3:59 pm | Comments (3)

In Pike vs. Trivedi, who’s really more electable?

Even as they agree their contentious 6th District primary is all about beating Jim Gerlach, Democrats Doug Pike and Manan Trivedi have increasingly been making the argument that each of them is more electable against the incumbent. So who really is the better candidate to carry the Democratic banner into November?

It’s a good question, political insiders and analysts say.

“Who is going to be able to mount a better campaign against Jim Gerlach is …

May 3, 2010 at 9:45 am | Comments (16)

Pike’s ‘not taking any lectures’ from Gerlach (Updated)

Democrat Doug Pike quickly fired back at Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) Tuesday, saying that …

April 27, 2010 at 4:51 pm | Comments (7)

Gerlach: Dem contest to face him is a ‘MoveOn.org beauty pageant’

Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6)’s campaign on Tuesday took its first direct swipe at the two Democrats who are fiercely competing for the chance to challenge him in November, calling their primary a “MoveOn.org beauty pageant.”

The comment referring to the prominent liberal advocacy group signaled that Gerlach is getting ready to paint whoever emerges from the Democratic field on May 18 as a far-left liberal who is out of touch with his suburban Philadelphia district. …

April 27, 2010 at 2:13 pm | Comments (14)

Pike and Trivedi agree they’ll back the winner

SINKING SPRING—Democrats Doug Pike Manan Trivedi have been embroiled in a fiercely competitive primary, and while they both want to represent the 6th Congressional District, what they really want is for incumbent Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) to be out of a job. So with just days left until primary voters make their pick, both candidates say they’ll campaign for the other should they lose on May 18.

“I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, and I want Jim …

April 26, 2010 at 8:30 am | Comments (3)

In debate, Pike and Trivedi share a common foe

SINKING SPRING—Democrats Doug Pike and Manan Trivedi agreed on quite a bit during a debate here Saturday afternoon, but perhaps shared no opinion more strongly than this: Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) has to go.

“Both of us would be head and shoulders above the very weak representative that we have now,” Pike said during the debate, which was part of the day-long Berks Progressive Summit.

Trivedi, a Reading doctor, and Pike, a former Inquirer editorial …

April 24, 2010 at 8:47 pm | Comments (11)

Sellers buys bailout-bashing billboards

Republican Patrick Sellers has no doubt he’s the underdog in the looming Republican primary against Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6). But the Tea Party candidate hopes the 10 billboard advertisements that have gone up in recent days will make Gerlach work a little harder.

“I’m hoping these billboards hit him blindside,” Sellers said.

After pa2010.com spotted one of the billboards on Interstate 176 near Morgantown, Sellers said his campaign is spending about $8,000 for the lot of them, …

April 21, 2010 at 11:40 am | Comments (13)

Kicking in another $100K, Pike maintains the money edge over Trivedi

Democrat Manan Trivedi raised more money from donors who weren’t himself during the first quarter of the year than primary opponent Doug Pike. But Pike continued to write big checks for his campaign in the 6th Congressional District, and after contributing another $100,000 toward the effort, Pike continues to enjoy a cash advantage of almost $1 million, according to newly-filed campaign finance data.

Trivedi, a Reading doctor and Iraq War veteran, raised more than $170,000 …

April 16, 2010 at 2:45 pm | Comments (9)

Gerlach raised over half-a-million in three months

Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) has rapidly replenished his campaign coffers since calling off his run for governor, raising more than half-a-million bucks in the first three months of 2010, according to …

April 15, 2010 at 12:59 pm | Comments (5)

Pelosi’s prescription slashes Medicare, raises taxes

Supporters of the health care overhaul that Speaker Nancy Pelosi muscled through Congress argue this will be the greatest accomplishment since Social Security and Medicare.

What supporters of the $2.4-trillion scheme brush under the rug is that the health care overhaul will siphon resources from Social Security and Medicare at a time when the federal government is struggling to meet its existing entitlement program obligations.

Recent estimates show that Medicare could go bankrupt as early …

March 28, 2010 at 1:41 pm | Comments (24)