In a poll commissioned by Roll Call Newspaper, SUSA has incumbent Jason Altmire ahead of former Congresswoman Melissa Hart 54-42 in PA-04.
The 4th covers most of Beaver County and parts of Lawrence, Allegheny and Butler counties.
Both candidates hold about the same percent of their base, but Altmire leads 50-41 among self-describe independents.
Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said that the moderate vote-ratings scores for him and other freshmen prove that “we could, for the first time, field candidates who could be competitive in these [Republican] districts. These results show where I want to be: working the middle with both sides.” By contrast, Altmire said, he defeated his predecessor, GOP Rep. Melissa Hart, in his suburban Pittsburgh district because “she had moved too far from the center; once her constituents found that out, they kicked her out.” Hart is seeking to regain the seat this year. read more »
Even April’s Pennsylvania Presidential primary might be tame in comparison. The opening shots of the 2008 race for Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional seat have already been fired.Former Republican Rep. Melissa Hart, in an effort to regain her seat from Democrat Rep. Jason Altmire, has produced one of the first attack ads of the 2008 U.S. campaign season. In the advertisement, an ominous voiceover says, “Jason Altmire has only been in Congress just 12 short months. But that’s all it’s taken to learn how big a tax-and-spender he really is.” read more »
Former Allegheny County Councilman Ron Francis has ended his campaign for the GOP nomination to run against U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, ensuring a rematch this year between Mr. Altmire, and former Rep. Melissa Hart, who lost the seat in 2006.In a letter to supporters on Thursday, Mr. Francis said he was backing Ms. Hart, of Bradford Woods, to make sure the party is united going into the 2008 election.
“That’s going to be required to win,” Mr. Francis, a Ben Avon Republican and a partner at the Downtown law firm Reed Smith, said yesterday. “A primary fight was going to only help Altmire.”
Mr. Francis and Ms. Hart spoke this week, and she invited him to chair her campaign. read more »
Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, who is hoping to recapture the southwestern Pennsylvania congressional seat she lost in 2006, is apparently hoping the anti-abortion crowd will help her.Hart was the lone Pennsylvania official to have a speaking role during today’s “March for Life” on the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe vs Wade decision that made abortion legal.
Sam, please just drop out. Please.
“Far be it from me to speak ill of another Democrat but I’m very, very deeply disappointed,” she said, when asked whether she might “turn into another Chris Carney or Jason Altmire, both freshmen Democrats who have been supporting the reactionary Bush agenda since being elected last year.” (link) read more »
Reaping the traditional financial advantages of incumbency, Western Pennsylvania members of Congress enjoyed significant fund-raising advantages over prospective challengers in next year’s congressional races.But while still far behind Rep. Jason Altimire, D-McCandless, the incumbent who ousted her last year, former Rep. Melissa Hart has a significant financial edge over former county Councilman Ron Francis in the race for the GOP nomination in the 4th Congressional District. read more »
Local newspapers and readers are lining up to support freshmen Jason Altmire, or maybe it’s just to keep Melissa Hart out of the race. It sure seems like she’s not very well liked out there. Here’s what one local newspaper editor had to say:
Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart’s apparently been champing at the bit for another shot at U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, who, of course, beat her in the 4th Congressional District race in November. read more »
Gee, I’d think a private sector advocate like Missy would relish the chance to be out of public service and working in the world in which she so fervently believes. Evidently she can’t hack it there, thus the rematch.
Former Congresswoman Melissa Hart says she is planning a comeback bid to regain the seat she lost a year ago to Democrat Jason Altmire.“Obviously, I still have a commitment to public service, despite the elections of last year,” Ms. Hart said last night. “I’ve watched the Congress in action over the last six months and they haven’t gotten a thing done and the issues that need to be addressed haven’t been addressed.”
Conservative commentator Salena Zito on our four freshmen:
Emanuel struck gold in the Keystone State in 2006, impressively picking off four Republican incumbents...The four won for a variety of reasons: Altmire because Hart refused to compete aggressively; Carney because of Sherwood’s personal behavior; Murphy and Sestak largely due to the political environment — voters moving away from Republicans.
So who’s vulnerable? read more »
The House Appropriations Committee yesterday approved $153 million for 377 pet projects, or “earmarks,” for lawmakers’ home districts…Reps. Jason Altmire and Christopher Carney, freshman Democrats from Pennsylvania, also won projects.
New rules require the sponsors of earmarks to be identified and certify that they don’t have a financial interest in them.
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Which commadment is that?
Anonymous (3 hours ago)
Hart is now on TV....
piltdownman (5 hours ago)
Appealing to haters of the Muslims
Anonymous (5 hours ago)
what planet do you live on
Anonymous (6 hours ago)
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