By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

Pennsylvania Republicans wasted little time Wednesday night distancing themselves from the national GOP’s unsuccessful attempt to persuade U.S. Rep. Chris Carney (D-10) to join the party.

The Pennsylvania Republican Party had no part in courting Carney, according to spokesman Mike Barley. Party officials in Harrisburg found out about the effort when Politico published a story about Carney’s possible party switch Wednesday afternoon, he said.

“We were a little surprised,” Barley told PoliticsPA. “This was the national party reaching out from Washington, not from Pennsylvania. We’re looking actively to beat Chris Carney. We’re looking for real Republicans.”

Dan Meuser, who ran for the district’s GOP nomination last year, was clearly surprised by the news because, in his words, Carney isn’t a “closet Republican.”

“My response is: Why would you ask a fish to become a elephant?” he asked. “He’s very comfortable in the liberal waters, and that is clear by his record.”.

The Politico reported and Carney later confirmed in a statement that U.S. Sen. John McCain called him to urge he switch parties. The congressman said he considered the Republican attempt a “sure sign that I have worked in a truly bipartisan manner.”

Wednesday’s news will help Carney bolster his claim that he’s independent, a helpful perception in the Republican-leaning 10th Congressional District. Voters in the district supported McCain’s presidential bid by 9 points over Barack Obama last year despite Carney’s nearly 13-point victory over Republican Chris Hackett.

Only Republican Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk has announced he will run against Carney next year. Former U.S. Attorney Tom Marino is considering a campaign, and state Rep. Mike Peifer decided earlier this week he wouldn’t run.

Republicans immediately sought to counter the notion the party’s outreach to Carney meant he was an independent.

Barley said the Democrat voted for the health care bill and federal stimulus package.

“We have no illusions that he’s a Republican,” he said.

Asked if state party officials would have helped court Carney, Barley said he wouldn’t comment on a hypothetical. But he added they had never considered asking him to switch before.

“We in no way had any illusions that he would switch,” the spokesman said.

See also: Republican candidate says Carney news a slap in the face.