By Abhinav Parameshwar, Contributing Writer

On Monday. Alleghany county voters will have the opportunity to decide whether Chuck McCullough or D. Raja will be the Republican Party’s next candidate in November’s county executive general elections.

Much as been made of the impact McCullough’s pending court case, on fraud charges from over three years ago, will have on voter sentiments. The latest development in the scheduling of the trial is its reschedule for September 1st, well in advance of the general election. Judge Donald Machen is reported to have reversed the decision he made last Friday for the trial to take place on November 14 because of a newspapers account on the matter that changed his mind. That’s a benefit for Republicans, not a risk, says McCullough, who sees it as a chance to clear his name before the county executive elections.

McCullough last Monday night revealed that he had raised around $7,600, as opposed to the previously reported $1,157, for his county executive campaign. This is in stark contrast to the $245,000 Raja has already spent for his own cause.

The primary pits McCullough’s experience in the department from having worked as a councilman for three years, against Raja’a self-professed fit for the role from his background as the CEO and co-founder of the technology company CEI.

McCullough has done well for himself despite having no establishment support or money. Having beaten Kevin Acklin in the Republican council-at-large race in 2007, he has shown an ability to generate publicity through his stances on popular issues like the drink tax. In addition, McCullough has won on the countywide GOP ballot before with the same handicaps and one early poll indicated that he had a slight lead over his counterpart before concerted voter contact efforts began. His support base, which already consists of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91, the Western PA Restaurant Assoc., LifePAC, and Firearms Owners Against Crime, widened recently to include the conservative Pa Republican Leadership Council’s due to their declaration of support on twitter. A full list of McCullough’s endorsements can be found here.

In spite of this, Raja has much to be optimistic about going into the primary due to the establishment GOP support he already enjoys. Republican Governor Tom Corbett, former county executive Jim Roddey, US Senator Pat Toomey, and Congressman Tim Murphy are just a few of the influential politicians that have already lent their endorsement for Raja. A full list of Raja’s endorsements can be found here. He also won the endorsement of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Raja also has the benefit of a large campaign kitty. This is reflected in the money he has spent in media coverage and TV advertisements. He’s hammered away his business background and support from statewide Republicans.

http://youtu.be/eL7TTnyyw0s

As things stand, however, Raja appears poised to win. But never count out an Irishman in Allegheny County.