By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com
A strategist for Bill Russell’s congressional campaign Monday raised the possibility that personal animosity between the former Army officer and state GOP Chairman Rob Gleason could adversely affect his chances of winning next week’s vote to nominate a Republican for the May 18 special election.
The conflict between Gleason and Russell is hardly a secret, and the tension between the two men has resurfaced in other recent media reports ahead of next week’s nomination meeting to replace John Murtha . But his campaign’s comment Monday is another sign it is trying to frame the selection process as driven by Republican insiders who don’t represent the district’s conservative electorate.
Russell is competing against Eighty Four businessman Tim Burns for the Republican nomination, which will determine which candidate is placed on the special election ballot
In an interview, Russell strategist Steve Clark said the chairman wasn’t supportive of his candidacy when he ran against Murtha in 2008.
“Last election, Bill got a lot of support from Republicans everywhere, except from state committee, which was kind of surprising,” he said.
Clark added later, “I think it’s obvious the state committee chairman had a very close relationship with congressman Murtha, and because of that there was a strain between the chairman and Bill’s candidacy.”
His preference for Burns, the strategist said, could filter down to the district’s nine county chairman, who will select the conferees for the March 11 selection meeting.
Mike Barley, spokesman for the state GOP, said he couldn’t speak to Clark’s comment.
“Our focus is on running an open and fair process,” he said.
Clark emphasized that Russell’s campaign is focused on winning the nomination but also acknowledged it is simultaneously preparing to run a primary campaign. Russell has said he will run for the primary, also set for May 18, regardless of next week’s vote.
Burns, who said during an interview Monday that he’s confident he’ll win the party’s nomination, received a boost late last week when he received the endorsement of the Somerset County Republican Committee and the influential conservative blog RedState.
Tags: Bill Russell, Bill Russell for congress, Bill russell special election john murtha, Tim Burns, Tim Burns for congress
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The fact is, Tim Burns has never financially helped any Republican candidate for state office. Not even with a $5.00 contribution. He didn’t help Tom Ridge become Governor. He didn’t help Mike Fisher or Lynn Swann in their efforts to defeat liberal Ed Rendell. And he hasn’t supported local Republican candidates fighting Rendell’s tax, borrow and spend policies in Harrisburg like Senators John Pippy and Jane Orie or State Representative Mike Turzi.
On the federal level, he’s never contributed to a candidate to defeat Jack Mutha, whom he called “an embarrassment.” He never helped former Congresswoman Melissa Hart or former Congressman Phil English (both were defeated) or current Congressmen Tim Murphy or Bill Shuster.
He didn’t help Senator John McCain in his campaign to defeat Barrack Obama. And he didn’t support President George W. Bush with even a small donation against liberals Al Gore and John Kerry.
But now the state Party wants everyone to help Burns! But Tim Burns has never done anything to help any other Republican candidates except a one-time donation to Rick Santorum. Burns is not a team player!
Ted, why do you claim to be a republican when you have been doing nothing but smashing both cadidated (Russell and Burns)? Are you really Mark Critz?