Kelly spends big on mail in 3rd District; about $800K for Dahlkemper

Republican Mike Kelly spent thousands of dollars on direct-mail advertising in April, as his campaign continued a lesser emphasis on TV advertising ahead of the 3rd District primary.

Kelly raised about $38,000 during the period, according to full story

May 7, 2010 at 7:15 am | Comments (2)

Another $50K loan for Huber

Three weeks before primary day, Republican Paul Huber hadn’t stopped loaning money to his campaign.

Having already kicked in $250,000 toward his run in the 3rd Congressional District through March, Huber loaned another $50,000 to the effort last month, according to newly filed

May 4, 2010 at 8:30 am | Comments (1)

Grabb promises 4 terms max, will ‘cut Obama off at the knees’

ERIE—If there was ever a candidate for the current political climate, Clayton Grabb would seem to be it.

A Tea Party activist and Republican hopeful in the 3rd Congressional District, Grabb is a Navy veteran who proudly calls America a “Christian nation,” talks glowingly of term limits and says he has “no loyalty at all” to the party. He strikes a fiercely populist tone in public appearances and in one-on-one conversations, and is decidedly an…

May 3, 2010 at 10:30 am | Comments (57)

Martha Moore, everyone’s favorite debate partner

MEADVILLE—Five of the candidates in the 3rd District Republican primary can agree on one thing: They’re all fans of the sixth candidate in the race, Martha Moore.

“I want to get you on Leno,” primary opponent Steven Fisher told Moore recently.

“She is entertaining, to say the least,” candidate Paul Huber said.

Moore, a doctor with her own practice in Sandy Lake, has emerged as the fiery, folksy populist in the crowded field to take…

April 29, 2010 at 10:45 pm | Comments (12)

In 3rd District primary, Huber buys TV time early and often

ERIE—As Republicans Paul Huber and Mike Kelly jockey for the GOP nomination to take on Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3), Huber has entered the home stretch with large purchases of TV ads that, at least for now, are largely burying Kelly on the airwaves.

Huber has already committed to spending more than $150,000 on broadcast television in the Erie media market through the May 18 primary, with a third of that amount having already been spent…

April 28, 2010 at 11:19 am | Comments (8)

3rd District GOP hopefuls talk economy, national security

MEADVILLE—Six Republicans vying for the chance to take on Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) shared a stage Monday night for the latest in several debates for the crowded GOP filed, one that revealed little substantive policy differences between the candidates while still showcasing a world of stylistic contrasts.

The debate before about 200 people at Allegheny College here featured frequent populist rallying cries, criticism of Dahlkemper and calls for lower taxes and smaller government. The candidates…

April 27, 2010 at 8:00 am | Comments (18)

Huber up with new ad in Erie

Republican Paul Huber’s campaign in the 3rd Congressional District is airing a new TV ad, with just four weeks until the primary, his campaign said Wednesday.

The campaign said the 30-second spot, which continues Huber’s theme of emphasizing that he’s a “businessman” and “not a career politician,” is airing on broadcast TV in the Erie market and on cable throughout the district.

One of Huber’s main opponents for the GOP nomination to take on Congresswoman…

April 21, 2010 at 3:41 pm | Comments (1)

Huber, Kelly loan their campaigns the big bucks

Writing yourself big checks seems to be all the rage in the 3rd Congressional District this year.

Republican Mike Kelly got into the act last quarter, kicking in $165,000 toward his own campaign, according to

April 15, 2010 at 1:49 pm | Comments (6)

Dahkemper opponent contributed to Dem campaigns

Party loyalty has been a common theme in the crowded GOP primary in the 3rd Congressional District, and Butler car dealer Mike Kelly has never hesitated to pronounce himself a “lifelong Republican.”

But party registration aside, Kelly has given campaign contributions to two Democratic candidates over the years, according to state and federal campaign finance data. In 1994, on the eve of the Newt Gingrich-led Republican Revolution, Kelly gave a total of $2,000 Bill Leavens,…

April 12, 2010 at 3:29 pm | Comments (150)

Huber hits the airwaves in the 3th District

Republican congressional hopeful Paul Huber took an important step toward cementing his status as one of the GOP front-runners in the 4th Congressional District Thursday, becoming the first candidate to air a TV ad the northwest Pennsylvania district.

The 30-second spot focuses on jobs, noting that Huber is a businessman, “not a career politician.”

“As your congressman, I’ll have one priority,” Huber says in the ad. “Jobs here. Jobs now. Jobs first.”

The campaign didn’t…

April 8, 2010 at 1:47 pm | Comments (6)