By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

GLEN MILLS — GOP congressional candidate Pat Meehan received a fundraising boost Wednesday night from the man whose campaign he might need to emulate to take back the left-leaning 7th Congressional District.

Republican New Jersey Governor-elect Chris Christie participated in back-to-back fundraisers for his former U.S. attorney colleague, events Meehan’s campaign said raised more than $250,000 in one night. The later of which, held at the swanky Concordville Inn, also featured the newly elected executive touting his winning campaign strategy in New Jersey as a template for Meehan to use in the southeast district.

Christie, who defeated Democratic incumbent John Corzine in November in a win hailed by Republicans as a sign of a national political comeback, said he focused on character and integrity while vowing not to compromise either. It’s the same winning formula Meehan can use to win in an area that, like New Jersey, tilts to the left and was thought by some pundits to be unwinnable for the GOP, he said.

“We proved on November 3 against Barack Obama’s buddy John Corzine … that if your message is right and your candidate is strong and your candidate’s supporters are strong, that victory can be yours.”

Meehan and Christie became friendly when each was a U.S. attorney earlier this decade — Meehan for eastern Pennsylvania and Christie for New Jersey. The congressional candidate also helped with a Christie fundraiser during his gubernatorial bid.

Much of Christie’s 10-minute speech focused on Meehan’s character, framing his values and “common sense” fiscal conservatism as the antidote to what he called President Barack Obama’s worrisome, debt-inflating policies.

“No one ever once could say anything about Pat Meehan that would impugn in any the integrity he and his family represent for the people of Delaware County, for the people of southeast Pennsylvania, and, in fact, the people of the entire state of Pennsylvania,” the former U.S. attorney said. “Those are the type of people that we need in the House of Representatives. And that’s why I’m here for my friend pat Meehan.”

Christie and Meehan attended a Union League fundraiser in Philadelphia before attending the Glen Mills event.

Meehan, who started this year running for governor, is the lone GOP congressional candidate in the district after businessman Steve Welch switched his campaign from the 7th to 6th District at the behest of local Republican leaders. Three Democrats are are declared candidates: state Rep. Bryan Lentz, political consultant Teresa Touey, and environmental lawyer Gail Conner. State Rep. Greg Vitali told PoliticsPA earlier this week he still hasn’t made a decision about a campaign.

Andy Reilly, the new Delaware County GOP chair, said after Christie’s speech he expects Lentz will emerge from the Democratic field, which is the early prediction of many observers.

The 7th District is an open race because incumbent Joe Sestak is running against Arlen Specter for a spot in the U.S. Senate. Sestak won re-election to the seat by 20 percentage points last year as a first-term incumbent.

A spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Meehan can expect the same type of support the last 7th District Republican received.

“It’s no surprise to see one George Bush crony raising money for another,” said Shripal Shah, spokesman for the DCCC. “Unfortunately for Meehan, Pennsylvanians are looking to turn the page on the Bush years, but that’s exactly what Meehan’s candidacy represents.”

But Meehan, in an interview with PoliticsPA, said Christie’s campaign, and the honorable way he conducted it, demonstrated to voters he was genuine. That characteristic makes people feel he understands the financial problems they’re dealing with at home, Meehan said, the key to earning their vote.

“They appreciated the real person, and I think it was one of the factors that led him to victory,” he said.

Tags: 7th District, Bryan Lentz, Chris Christie, Gail Conner, Pat Meehan, Teresa Touey

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