By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

To those who argue that new media and increasing partisanship are moving the country toward a permanent campaign, we submit the following.

The campaign arms of both U.S. House caucuses have launched automated phone messages against several members of the Pennsylvania delegation.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) are targeting members of Congress from swing districts. For Dems, that means a far longer list: Reps. Lou Barletta, Charlie Dent, Mike Fitzpatrick, Jim Gerlach, Mike Kelly, Tom Marino and Pat Meehan. Republicans are targeting Rep. Jason Altmire.

Dems are focusing on Medicare, and their argument that the budget that recently passed the House (by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan) will end Medicare. The DCCC wouldn’t specify the exact size of the call, part of their “Drive to 25” campaign to flip 25 seats from red to blue, but confirmed that thousands of voters will receive the call per district.

Republicans are taking aim at Altmire’s budget votes. Specifically, the fact that he voted against each of the five major budget proposals from each party and caucus. According to the NRCC, about a thousand of the calls will go out to voters in the 4th district.

“These calls will remind voters of Rep. Altmire’s failure to help pay down our nation’s massive debt.  By refusing to support any budget, Jason Altmire continues to give the Obama Administration a blank check to spend recklessly and borrow more from China,” said NRCC spokesman Tory Mazzola.

Here is the call script for Rep. Dent’s district (chosen at random, the scripts for all seven Reps are identical).

Hi, this is Claire from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee calling about Congressman Charlie Dent’s vote to end Medicare.

Everyone agrees we must cut spending and tighten our belt, but Congressman Dent has made all the wrong choices.  Heactually voted to end Medicare, rather than end taxpayer giveaways for Big Oil making record profits or tax breaks for the ultra rich!

Seniors who pay a lifetime into Medicare deserve the benefits they’ve earned. Under the Dent-Republican plan Medicare ends, benefits to seniors are less, and costs to seniors increase – in order to pay for Big Oil taxpayer giveaways and the ultra rich’s tax breaks.

America is built on shared sacrifice.  Charlie Dent is choosing to place the burden on seniors.  That’s not right.

Please call Congressman Dent at (610) 861-9734 and tell him to keep his hands off our Medicare!

And here is the script against Rep. Altmire.

Hello, I’m calling from the National Republican Congressional Committee, 320 FRIST STREET NE, WASHINGTON, DC  20003, 202.479.7000 with an important recorded message about your Congressman, Jason Altmire.

Last year, while families were tightening their belts, Jason Altmire and Nancy Pelosi failed to pass a budget, and Washington Democrats continued to spend your money recklessly.

Last week, Altmire refused to vote for ANY of the five budget proposals that cut spending.  Some plans cut a little, some plans cut a lot – Altmire rejected all of them.  Keeping us deeper in debt to China.

Call Congressman Altmire at 202-225-2565 and tell him to get serious.  Paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.  202.479.7000.