Allyson Schwartz (D-PA-13) represents a district that John Kerry won 54-43. In 2008, she won 63-34. But she’s scared this year. How scared? Scared enough to put the screws into the leaders of the national and state firefighters union to get a firefighter and bar owner named Brian Haughton to not run:
Haughton described himself as aggressive and passionate and told the crowd that Schwartz called the heads of the national and local International Association of Fire Fighters to ask them to get him out of the race, saying, “I don’t want to run against a firefighter.”
He thinks she fears a blue-collar Philadelphian as an opponent.
Rachel Magnuson, Schwartz’s chief of staff, said the congresswoman spoke to the union leaders, but only to seek support, not to derail Haughton’s candidacy. Magnuson noted that Schwartz has been supported by the fire unions in the past and added that the office will not have a comment on the campaign until a Republican candidate emerges. She did indicate that the incumbent is focused on jobs as the primary issue.
Not only did Schwartz make the call, but her staff weren’t shy about it. In what would probably be a safe district — in 2002 the Republican did get 47%, but Schwartz beat her by outspending her almost 3-1 — she has to put on the screws to stop a blue collar firefighter.
Oh, and I have been told, but I have not been able to confirm, that the fire fighters have endorsed Haughton, one of their own. (this may just be in the Republican primary)
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Well, a D+7 District Is Theoretically Winnable...
IJB Wednesday, February 10th at 3:40PM EST (link)…In a good year, with the right candidate.
Hmmm….
2010? Check.
Fireman opponent? Check.
Conclusion: Yep! Schwartz should be scared!!
She is Really That Worried?
gemimail Thursday, February 11th at 2:12PM EST (link)Wow! We have her listed as only having an 8.1% of getting beaten. We do project that PA-3, PA-4, PA-7, PA-8, PA-10, PA-11 and PA-12 will go Republican and people think we are crazy to think that and to project that 60 Democrat House seats will go Republican. If Rep. Schwartz is that worried then maybe we are not so crazy after all. See: http://www.marstonchronicles.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=308&Itemid=1144.
Good. Let them all be scared.
renny (Diary) Wednesday, February 10th at 4:10PM EST (link)PA used to be a solid “red” state of farmers and blue collar workers. It has only been recently that Harrisburg and Pittsburgh (Phila. was always in the tank) with minority populations and heavy Dem. reg. were able to skew the entire state.
I’ve written before that polls in Murtha’s district were showing him 15% down before the Nov. election. Then suddenly, he won.
Besides tea parties and Rep. committee people, we need to purge voting rolls of the dead, the illegal, and the shill. Rep. poll judges and challengers have to be in place everywhere to stop ACORN, Rock the VOTE, and groups like the New Black Panthers from polluting votes.
No matter how good candidates are if crooks and frauds hijack the polling booths, we won’t get rid of encumbents and corruptors.
"we need to purge voting rolls of the dead, the illegal, and the shill."
mags Thursday, February 11th at 10:52AM EST (link)I agree 100%, but, how does one go about doing that? Can average citizens demand that the registration rolls be researched to insure only LEGAL and BREATHING voters are represented?
Two organizations in one
verbatim Wednesday, February 10th at 4:20PM EST (link)They should combine this group with a leftist political action group and call it “Let’s Move On” — a group that promotes being healthy and liberal.
Allyson,
Viet71 (Diary) Wednesday, February 10th at 4:59PM EST (link)if that is your right name, I agree, Dems will lose big time in November 2010.
The future is Scott Brown.
Allyson,
Viet71 (Diary) Wednesday, February 10th at 5:00PM EST (link)if that is your right name, I agree, Dems will lose big time in November 2010.
Scott Brown is the future.
I like what I see
conservativemountaineer Wednesday, February 10th at 6:22PM EST (link)when I visit his Website… even though I’m not sure I’m 100% with his Energy position… everything else seems A-OK. Book marked his site in my Conservative Politicians classification for potential giving, especially for the General Election (full disclosure, not all of the politicians in my Conservative Politicians classification are true conservatives, but a Heckuva lot better than Democrats or other Repulicans in particular races).
Just because the cloud has a silver lining doesn’t mean it’s not going to rain.
The other candidate,
Return to Revolution (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 10:12AM EST (link)Damian Dachowski (http://www.damian2010.com/) appears to have pretty much the same views. The energy position annoys me as well, though I would be fine with either to get rid of Schwartz. I had been tentatively behind Dachowski, though if they are the same candidate I’ll support whoever has the best shot at unseating Shcwartz.
Josh Quinter is another solid candidate (http://joshquinter.com/) though he seems to have the least name recognition.
Out of hand Constitutional fetishist
Especially interesting when you consider
Return to Revolution (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 10:35AM EST (link)how late in the game Haughton is entering. He only filed in December and according to the latest FEC disclosure info I could find, has raisded no money.
Damian Dachowski and Josh Quinter have been in the ring since June/July and Dachowski has raised less than $30k and Quinter not even $5k. Compare that to Schwartz’s $250k raised and >$2 million cash on hand.
Out of hand Constitutional fetishist
Don't Back Down Haughton !
Daezy Thursday, February 11th at 4:06PM EST (link)Nothing better than attempted intimidation to stir the pot.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. ~ Ronald Reagan
http://uslibertyjournal.blogspot.com/