|
It’s never a good sign when the lead of a story is: “Republicans in Pennsylvania and beyond are frustrated” as they sort out how to take on Rep. Matt Cartwright.
As they finger-point at who is to blame, it’s clear that Pennsylvania Republicans are panicked about being stuck with a weak retread candidate in DC political hack Jim Bognet in PA-08.
Read the full WHTM report here. Key excerpts below:
-
Republicans in Pennsylvania and beyond are frustrated at the new congressional map that would force two incumbents to square off and they’re upset at one of their own for not going along with a plan that would’ve helped them even the score.
-
It was a strategy supported by Republicans in Washington to pick up a seat in Pennsylvania. The new congressional map chosen by the State Supreme Court put Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA 12th), the junior Pa. Republican, in the 15th district with Glenn Thompson, the senior Pa. Republican. A seat had to be sacrificed somewhere.
-
To fight back, the Republican strategy would have two incumbents take baby steps east. Keller to the new 9th in which he grew up and has deep ties. “I’ve gone to church in the new nine since 1978,” Keller said.
-
The plan called for Dan Meuser to move from his current 9th to the neighboring 8th and take on, in theory, bump off 10-year incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright.
-
Meuser has money, name recognition and, many believe, would benefit from the coming red wave on election day.“I bumped over, the other one of us could’ve bumped over and ran against Cartwright and it would’ve been all hand on deck to defeat Cartwright,” Keller said.
-
But the unnamed “other one of us” is Meuser who said no thanks. He’ll stay in the overwhelmingly Republican 9th saving the cash and the clash with an entrenched incumbent. Nicholas understands.
-
“Meuser now goes from running a tough race against a fellow Republican or potentially, against a Democrat to really just being able to take it pretty easy on the campaign level,” Nicholas said.
-
Not so easy for Keller, who bowed out rather than take on another Republican. “There was an opportunity for all of us to run and potentially have a race against Matt Cartwright. That didn’t turn out,” Keller said.
|
