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Erie Times News - Foust makes strong foe for English

Erie County Councilman Kyle Foust, of Harborcreek, finally confirmed the rumors: The 39-year-old Democrat is starting to build a campaign to challenge U.S. Rep. Phil English, R-3rd Dist., in a race that national Democrats have targeted as winnable in 2008.

Judging by the reaction of English and his staff, it's clear they consider Foust a credible challenger. English expressed "surprise" that Foust would acknowledge interest in a congressional run, considering it's a year away. And Brad Moore, the Erie County Republican Party chairman and a former English aide, wrote in a news release, "The ink isn't even dry yet for Councilman Foust's position on the November ballot to represent his County Council district for another term, and he is already declaring he intends to run for Congress."

That's not subtle. The political chase is on.

The truth is Foust or any Democrat who wants to defeat English must start a campaign now. English and Moore know this, of course. There is a campaign staff to build, strategies to develop and an enormous amount of money to be raised, especially given English's campaign treasury and prowess as a fundraiser.

Foust's early announcement could also persuade some other interested Democrats to stay out of the race. Democrats remember that one of the major reasons English is in office now is that a crowded Democratic primary field in 1994 resulted in the Erie candidates knocking off each other, allowing Sharon lawyer Bill Leavens to emerge as the nominee. In the subsequent election, English garnered enough Democratic support from the Erie region to win the right to succeed Tom Ridge.

Foust is taking the proper initial steps for a difficult campaign battle that lies ahead.