Probably two things happened.
1. Murtha sobered up and realized that he was in a race with some heavy outside help for Irey.
2. The 41 Rat candidates sobered up and decided that Murtha might cost them votes as Murtha's walk through the park becomes an uphill battle because of his anti American lunancy.
2. The 41 Rat candidates sobered up and decided that Murtha might cost them votes
I think you nailed it Dave, along with his minder Pelosi waking up to those facts. :-)