Another one bites the dust in PA-8

They’re dropping like flies in the 8th Congressional District.

A Republican primary that was overflowing with candidates has narrowed by about a third since former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick got into the race a week ago. The latest to exit was Jeffrey Schott, who announced his decision in a statement Friday. Unlike three other candidates who have stepped aside, Schott did not endorse Fitzpatrick. In fact, he didn’t even mention the Republican front-runner.

“I have been …

January 30, 2010 at 4:19 pm | Comments (5)

Fitzpatrick says he wants open primary

Three Republicans have already left the primary field to make room for him, but former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick says he’s not asking anyone to get out.

Fitzpatrick, who’s seeking a rematch against Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8), …

January 29, 2010 at 11:32 am | Comments (9)

Another Republican steps aside for Fitzpatrick

Four days after Republican …

January 27, 2010 at 10:47 pm | Comments (2)

Blue Dogs get spending-freeze-fever

With the political tides seeming to turn against their party and President Obama’s first State of the Union looming, some moderate Democrats from the Keystone State are quickly becoming enamored with the concept of a spending freeze.

Shortly before word surfaced of …

January 26, 2010 at 6:42 pm | Comments (2)

Video and audio from Fitzpatrick’s announcement

pA brief video clip from his speech is embedded above./p
pThe commotion you’ll hear in both clips is from a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2010/01/when-political-stagecraft-is-stymied/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fwhen-political-stagecraft-is-stymied%2F','a+Democratic+protester')" target="_blank">a Democratic protester who came to Langhorne to challenge Fitzpatrick on the issue of health care reform.

January 23, 2010 at 4:00 pm | Comments (3)

Fitzpatrick starts campaign with significant infrastructure

LANGHORNE—If the cadre of aides who were on hand here Saturday for …

January 23, 2010 at 3:50 pm | Comments (11)

When political stagecraft is stymied

LANGHORNE—Sometimes even the best-planned campaign roll-out can be marred by one person.

Months after conservatives made headlines by shouting down Democrats at town hall meetings, a local Republican canddiate saw the tables turned. Almost from the moment former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick took the stage here Saturday to …

January 23, 2010 at 3:35 pm | Comments (20)

Fitzpatrick launches rematch against Murphy, vowing not to squander a 2nd chance

LANGHORNE—Former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick on Saturday officially set out to take back the House seat he lost to Democrat Patrick Murphy three years ago, telling supporters that “being away from political life has given me a new vision.”

Speaking outside the St. Mary Medical Center here, where he was treated for colon cancer in 2008, Fitzpatrick launched a campaign that makes him one of several Republicans ousted in the 2006 Democratic sweep who are now …

January 23, 2010 at 3:21 pm | Comments (13)

Fitzpatrick to announce 8th District rematch on Saturday

Former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick on Saturday will launch a rematch against the man who unseated him three years ago , setting up yet another competitive House race in Pennslvania.

Fitzpatrick, a Republican who lost his 8th District seat to Democrat Patrick Murphy by a razor-thin margin in 2006, confirmed multiple reports Thursday afternoon that his announcement will come Saturday in Langhorne.

Murphy, now a second-term congressman, has been considered relatively safe, but …

January 21, 2010 at 4:30 pm | Comments (0)

WEEKEND LEFTOVERS: Mendte hits back, Tea Parties in the 8th, education & agriculture talk

Former CBS3 anchor Larry Mendte took to the blogosphere this weekend to criticize media coverage of his wife’s possible candidacy in the 7th Congressional District, pWe haven’t heard from either Mendte or Stensland in a while, and some Republican insiders have taken the silence as an indication she might not run, after all. So it was nice to see their names pop up again, even if empa2010.com/em was put in the cross-hairs as a result. Loyal readers will remember that our blogger emPurple in Pennsylvania/em got guff for a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2009/12/holidays-come-early-for-stensland-specter-and-kanjo/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fholidays-come-early-for-stensland-specter-and-kanjo%2F','something+widely+decried+as+sexist+that+he+wrote+about+Stensland+last+month.')" target="_blank">something widely decried as sexist that he wrote about Stensland last month. I’ve spoken with Mendte about this, and have made clear I would never defend what Michael Livingston wrote—only his free-speech right to do so. But Mendte, not surprisingly, didn’t appreciate it, and he understandably singled Livingston out for …

January 16, 2010 at 6:00 pm | Comments (8)