National Journal’s Hotline is speculating that the lack of opponents for Jim Gerlach, Patrick Murphy, and Joe Sestak may mean they get free rides in 2008. As they say…with the price of a campaign approaching $3 million in those districts, is there even enough time to mount an effective challenge at this point? It seems like a valid concern to me, but what do you think?
And more specifically, who are the viable candidates to challenge Gerlach, Murphy, or Sestak next year?
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A hiring freeze would help.
Anonymous (2 hours ago)
The election is tee'd up for her.
Anonymous (14 hours ago)
Schwartz
Greg Palmer (16 hours ago)
God, I hope not!
Anonymous (16 hours ago)
Newspapers
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6th District
Can it be true? Anyone out there have knowlege of the situation?
How could the party let this district go when the votes have been so close-and getting closer-in recent elections?
Past Failures
I’d venture a guess that many candidates are scared to face Gerlach after his past two wins against Lois Murphy, who was a very strong candidate with a lot going for her… but I just found a story that says Dems are trying to recruit Bob Casey’s brother to run. I’ll post it in a moment.
Lois Murphy
Hey, thanks very much for the news from the 6th.
$3M is a lot to throw in the garbage, that’s true.
But I must say that I was personally very unimpressed with Lois Murphy Brown’s candidacy. I wanted to hear her speak during the last campaign, but it turned out that the only venues in which she appeared required a donation…
One event listed on her website even required that one bring food to the event…. and declared that the food would be physically inspected in order to ensure that it was kosher prior to entry to the venue. I kid you not. Not exactly the best strategy for winning undecided voters, do you think?
I have voted mostly straight D my entire life and even once worked for a D candidate in the 6th. Lois Murphy Brown hid behind a curtain in the last campaign. And that notwithstanding, she very nearly prevailed. I don’t think it would be hard for a new candidate to do a better job than did she.
gerlach did a good job though
its hard to discount him in the face of those odds and the tidal wave…i mean, look around the rest of the country…frigging districts that were solid bush territory swamping republican members last year? his seat should have been the first washed away.
That's true
You’re absolutely right – Gerlach had a tough challenger and an unfavorable political environment and yet he managed to win. Any potential challenger out there has got to be wondering how he does it!
del cty
it is revealing that the supposedly awesome republicans of Delaware County cannot find a candidate to challenge Joe Sestak. They are like the schoolyard bully that can’t take a punch and runs away sniveling when actually confronted. THIS SHOULD BE A LESSON FOR ALL YOU DEMS!! if we fight back we often win BIG
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