It’s a big Monday in Pennsylvania politics, beginning with a visit from the POTUS to Montgomery County’s Arcadia University, the first of a two-stop tour (the other is in St. Louis on Wednesday) to push his health care reform bill, resurgent since Democrats agreed to use any means necessary to pass it. While Obama is in suburban Philadelphia, though, the American Future Fund, a conservative group, will be running TV ads in two competitive Pa. districts eyed by the GOP that call on Congress to trash the bill. Kathy Dahlkemper’s Erie-based 3rd district and Chris Carney’s 10th district in NEPA are among 18 targeted by the AFF (h/t The Fix).
Also today, the state Democratic Party’s Executive committee will nominate a candidate for the 12th CD left vacant after John Murtha’s death in early February. District Democrats endorsed former Murtha aide Mark Critz at their gathering on Saturday, but the recommendation (which is often followed by the committee) guarantees nothing. Still in the mix is former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer and Cambria County controller Ed Cernic Jr. Stay turned to PoliticsPA for updates throughout the day on the vote.
On Thursday, it’s the Republicans’ turn to nominate a candidate for the May 18 special election. The vote will come down to former Army officer Bill Russell and businessman Tim Burns. Although Burns is the favorite for the nomination, Russell retains strong support among many conservative activists and could still make Thursday’s vote itneresting. The 2008 candidate’s biggest challenge remains convincing voters that he can run a campaign that doesn’t center purely on running against John Murtah. The biggest question surrounding his opponent Burns is whether the wealthy businessman will begin using his personal fortune to help his candidacy.
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