Altmire Is A Bellwether For 2010 Election

IBD's Capital Hill ^ | 2/18/2010 | David Hogberg

[Slyscribe]

Blue Dog Democrat Jason Altmire, who represents Pennsylvania’s 4th District, could be getting a tough challenger this year in former U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan. Two other Republicans — Edgeworth lawyer and former Department of Homeland Security official Keith Rothfus and salesman John Vinsick of Hopewell — have already entered the race.

Altmire’s race is a likely bellwether. Altmire seems like the type of conservative-to-moderate Democrat who wouldn’t have a tough time winning re-election, even in a bad year for his party. If he loses, then Nov. 2 will surely be a very bad night for Democrats.

[mak5]

Altmire is not conservative to moderate by any stretch of the imagination. If Nancy Pelosi needs his vote, he’ll give it to her. His performance at town halls this past year were reason enough for people to turn him aside.

[Ditto]

Mixed emotions here. I live in the PA 4th and did not vote for Altmier before. He did vote against the House health care bill and the cap & trade scam, which I like, but he is still a Democrat who will stick to the party line on most occasions.

His likely Republican opponent, Mary Beth Buchanan does not impress me at all. As US Attorney she brought some strange cases including the Tommy Chong and Cyril Wecht trials where were huge wastes of Taxpayer money, IMHO.

I was not impressed with her as US Attorney. It sure seemed that she often used her office for political reasons, not to pursue justice.

[RedMDer]

“conservative-to-moderate Democrat”

Oxymoron

[pallis]

There is no such thing as a conservative Democrat. Blue dog Dems are simply politicians who lack he courage to stand up for their beliefs, one way or the other. They are playing politics.