There are two candidates vying to unseat Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks), but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is sticking with its man. Chairman Steve Israel is coming to Philadelphia next week to raise money for Kevin Strouse.
According to a fundraiser invitation obtained by PoliticsPA, Israel will headline a luncheon on June 11 with a suggested contribution of $1,000.
It will be hosted by prominent attorney Mark Aronchick, who previously served as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association and as President of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.
Strouse’s campaign and a national Democratic operative confirmed the event.
Last month Strouse was one of eight candidates nationwide selected by the DCCC’s “Jumpstart” program, aimed at providing logistical support to recruits.
The DCCC usually avoids competitive primaries, so the picture became slightly murkier on the entrance of Shaughnessey Naughton, a businesswoman, in the race. But it appears they remain set on Strouse, who is also the favorite of former Rep. Patrick Murphy.
Strouse, the first announced candidate of the contest, is a former U.S. Army Ranger who served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He later worked three years at the CIA’s counterterrorism center. Strouse grew up in Delaware County and he and his wife and two children recently moved to Bensalem.
Naughton, a former scientist and publisher, announced her candidacy last month. Naughton is a Point Pleasant native who was born and raised in Bucks County. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in Chemistry, she briefly worked for Wyeth Industries before joining her family’s publishing business in 2003.
She dismissed the fundraiser as DC-driven astroturf.
“I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that the hand-picked candidate of the DC establishment doesn’t know his way around yet, but I think this illustrates the difference between me and Kevin: I’m going to fight for the Eighth District’s middle class families and small businesses in DC; he’s still trying to find his way from DC to the Eighth District,” Naughton said.
National Republicans, ever eager to zing a DCCC recruit, reiterated its efforts to link Strouse to Nancy Pelosi.
“Given the fact that Nancy Pelosi and the DCCC have sent Kevin Strouse from D.C. to Bucks County solely to run for Congress, it is no surprise that they’d head up there to help him fundraise as soon as he got settled in to his new home,” said NRCC spokesman Ian Prior.
Here is the invitation:
4 Responses
Strouse is like a little lost puppy in the woods unless the DNC buys him a GPS (or a paid driver) to find his way around.
On the other hand, Shaughnessey is one of those evil rich “1%-ers” that Democrats find so vile and reprehensible.
Elitist college. Estate living in Point Pleasant??
Her rich family must be proud.
Mr. Strouse is a graduate of Columbia and Georgetown, survived four combat tours, and worked in the CIA for over 7 years…. I am confident he is capable enough to find his way around Bucks County, Ms. Naughton!
I think it’s great there is another Army vet running for office in PA. After losing Patrick Murphy, and the loses of Bryan Lentz, Manan Trivedi, and Joe Sestak in 2010 plus Shannon Meehan and A.J Gales for the PA house just to name a few. Pennsylvania has a huge number of vets and they need to be better represented in both DC and in Harrisburg.
For the love of God can House Republicans stop saying “Nancy Pelosi” every time they open their mouths?