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Congressional Races Election Day Open Thread

Mark Critz, left, and Keith Rothfus

From Critz-Rothfus to Boockvar-Fitzpatrick and everywhere in between, PoliticsPA has you covered on congressional races. Check here all day for live updates.

7:50 pm: Mikus also says that every target precinct for the Critz Campaign in Johnstown is over 70 percent turnout

4:40pm: Critz spokesman Mike Mikus said he’s heartened by universally strong turnout, in Dem as well as GOP areas. He said Rothfus’s numbers among independents and Republicans as strong, so turnout in areas like Johnstown and Aliquippa (Beaver Co.) will be key – and that his camp had feared a dropoff in Dem performance.

Critz won the Dem primary due to his enormous turnout advantage by his home area – 10 points higher than Altmire’s base. But he acknowledged the Romney surge only helps Rothfus; Obama is very unpopular in western Pa.

“Democrats who don’t want to vote for Obama. What they do is what we don’t know,” Mikus said.

2:45pm: The AFL-CIO has 120 volunteers on the ground in PA-12 and 110 in PA-8. We also have a statement from AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker:

“We are hearing reports from Pennsylvania that voters continue to receive misinformation about voter ID in Pennsylvania.  Voters do not need photo ID to vote in this election and those who don’t have photo ID shouldn’t be turned away.  First time voters will need to show some form of identification but a photo is not required.  In the greatest democracy in the world we should be ensuring that everyone has access to the polls regardless of where they live or who they are voting for.  We will continue to monitor these issues throughout the day and work to inform voters of how they can protect their vote.”

2:22pm: In the 15th district, Rep. Dent’s campaign says suburban turnout is outpacing the turnout in the city of Allentown. “Big turnout in Republican suburban townships – 40 to 55% already in suburban townships vs. 25 to 35% in Allentown.”

2:16pm: Says Rothfus Coms Director Tom Doheny, “Very high turnout, surprising number of people saying they’ve been life long Dems and are voting straight Republican. Haven’t seen anything like this before. Lot’s of people mentioning Keith’s ‘Alice’ ad and how much they liked it.”

2:12pm: In PA-10, northeast Pa., says Tom Marino’s CM, “Tom is on pace to hit 65 percent while Romney and Smith are on pace to hit 60 percent. Our state is definitely in play.”

2:10pm: Maggi CM Bradley Komar says, “Most Dem precincts in city of Washington are on pace to beat their 2008 turnout. I also hear (I don’t have physical numbers) that carnegie is having monster Dem turnout.”

12:47 p.m.: From Tom Marino (R-Lycoming) Campaign Manager Ryan Barton: “Turnout is really high in our district and the Romney voters are out in full force. The biggest surprise is that Tom Smith seems to be doing very well in Casey’s back yard.”

12:46 p.m.: GOP operative in Republican-friendly North Hills – part of PA-12 – says turnout there is on pace to surpass 208.


12:41 p.m.:
From Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) Campaign Manager Shane Seaver “We’re having a great day here at the Cartwright camp. Enthusiasm is high, turnout in our largest Democratic precincts is high throughout the district and volunteers are out in full force working to get out the vote for all of our Democratic candidates. Matt has set out on a six county tour of the district with his wife, Marion and son, Jack. Seven and a half hours left until the polls close!”

12:15 p.m.: Larry Maggi sent out perhaps his final campaign email blast this morning encouraging voters to take to the polls — regardless of whether they decide to cast their ballots for him.

“Make sure you get out to vote, regardless of who you end up voting for…I’m not going to plug myself or try to convince you that I’m worthy of your vote — I’ve spent the last 10 months doing that. Now, the decision is up to you.”

It seems like a strange thing to say (indeed, some GOPers are calling it Election Day reverse psychology) but Maggi remained adamant, and ended the email by offering rides to voters who need it.

11:45 a.m.: From Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne) Campaign Manager Lance Stange:  “District-wide, we have put in motion a GOTV plan to contact thousands of voters every hour throughout the day by knocking on doors and making phone calls. We have strategically deployed watchers in targeted precincts to protect the integrity of the election and to maximize our turnout efforts. We have so many volunteers in all of our nine counties that we were able to assign greeters at many of the polls. In the field, both turnout and enthusiasm are very high, but we aren’t taking anything for granted.”

11:36 a.m.: Meehan political director John Elizandro said turnout has been high in PA-7, and that support for the Congressman is as well.

“Hundreds of volunteers are working polls, making calls at phone banks, and going door-to-door to get out the vote.”

11:05 a.m.: The Rothfus campaign sent out an email blast this morning responding to comments Critz made yesterday at a rally.

Critz said, as reported by Johnstown’s Tribune-Democrat: “We’re in a fight. You hate to say it, ‘us against them.’ This is the middle class’ stand, and because of you folks we’re going to do this. We’re going to put my size 101/2 shoe up Keith Rothfus’ rear end. So, when he goes back to Grover Norquist, and (Rep. Pete) Sessions, and (House Speaker John) Boehner, and (Rep. Eric) Cantor and (Gov.) Mitt Romney, he can say, ‘Can you read this? What size shoe is this?’ because it’s going to come out of his mouth I’m going to shove it so far up there.”

Rothfus’ response: “Yesterday’s comments by Congressman Critz were unprofessional and a disgrace to the office he holds. As we enter Election Day today, the real Critz is coming forward, showing the desperation and vulgar tactics that have been a hallmark of his campaign for reelection. The people of southwestern Pennsylvania deserve a representative that rises above the immature behavior that has been pervasive in our political system. I’m proud to have their support and am confident that we will send a bold and direct message to Congressman Critz and his ally President Obama this evening.”

10:31 a.m.: From Scott Perry (R-York) Campaign Manager Tony Gray: “Turnout in the polls that Scott Perry has visited in Northern York County have been very busy. Right now he is visiting Manchester 6 and the line fills the lobby and is out the door.

“Our GOTV efforts are coordinated with our fellow State Representatives, Senators and statewide campaigns as well as county committees.”

10:10 a.m.: From Critz spox Mike Mikus: “We’re hearing that turnout is very high throughout the district but disproportionately high in Cambria and Beaver. We are hearing that heavily Democratic precincts in both counties (Johnstown in Cambria. Midland, Aliquippa and Beaver Falls in Beaver Co.) have already exceeded total votes cast in 2010 – this is not confirmed yet.”

“Still turnout appears to be very high where we need it so far. We have hundreds of people who begin door knocking throughout PA-12 beginning at 10 a.m.. Our phone banks are already going full tilt.”

9:58 a.m.: Rep. Tim Murphy campaigner reports good showing for the Congressman: “Long lines and wait times in strong Republican wards in Upper St Clair, South Fayette in Allegheny and Hempfield in Westmoreland County. Lower turnout in Democrat wards in Canton Township,Canonsburg and City of Washington in Washington County. No Maggi poll workers reported at any of the major polling locations and noticeably less Democrat poll workers than last presidential. Energized Republican poll workers. Very positive response for Congressman Murphy, many asking who Murphy’s challenger is. Bright sunshine here, not too cold.”

9:50 a.m.: In PA-18, Larry Maggi CM Bradley Komar: “Maggi is on his third polling location of the day meeting voters in his home base of washington county. Volunteers are on the phones in greensburg and washington. The day could not be any better for democratic turnout. This is democratic weather.”

9:30 a.m.: Boockvar campaign spox Andrew Grubin in PA-8:

“It looks good this morning.  I waited on a long line myself this a.m. We’re knocking on doors, making phone calls, directing people to the polls.  We’ll be working full-speed until after the polls close.  We all feel very good. There’s a great energy and we have a great ground game.”

7:00 a.m.: The polls are open! We’ll be up with our first update soon.

6 Responses

  1. Turnout IS high here in suburban Montgomery County – but all the new voters I saw were Dems! Many with Obama and Casey buttons and shirts. Very few Republicans were waiting in the long lines, and no Rep. greeters outside to counter several Dem greeters. If there is an enthusiasm gap, it is the Republicans who have it. Dem landslide all around Philly.

  2. You guys deserve him. I will be very happy to see him leave my town, when he packs up his district office in January.

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