Posted on 04/13/2010 7:50:30 AM PDT by randita
This is a VERY important election. We've been fighting for this seat for a long time and finally have a great shot of taking it both in the May 18 Special Election and in November. Tim Burns (R) has been selected as the GOP candidate to run in the May 18 Special Election against Mark Critz (D), but both Burns and another good GOP candidate, Bill Russell, are running in the May 18 Primary to face off against Critz in November. Burns needs our support now to win the seat on May 18.
Note that this district went for McCain in 2008.
An up to date list of vulnerable DEM seats and must hold GOP seats is located at Key House Races.
I saw that yesterday. Tim Pawlenty’s PAC and Mitt Romney’s PAC have dumped some money on Burns also.
Burns promoted himself as a self-funder(he’s worth somewhere between 80-200 million) to get the PA GOP’s endorsement, since the PA GOP is broke.
I want Burns to win the special election, but I do wish the NRCC and other GOP moneymen would target their resources to conservative candidates who aren’t independently wealthy.
Very, nice. Lots of interest in PA. That's good.
Thanks for the ping!
At lot of Russell backers are chessed off that Russell didn’t get the nomination for the special. I hope it doesn’t stop them from voting for Burns.
This is only district in the country that voted for Kerry in 2004 and McCain in 2008.
Is Bill Russell mounting a write in challenge for the special? That was mentioned weeks ago, I haven’t heard anything new. If he is that would lead me to believe Burns is the better choice.
What he said was
“I still think I am the best candidate to take over in the 12th,” Russell said. “So I’m going to vote for myself as a write-in.”
That would be juvenile. What he should do is help Burns win the special. Then resume his primary campaign.
FYI,
the primary is the same day as the special.
Excatly, Russell has to keep campaigning hard through the day of the special election because the primary is the same day.
Fortunately, the more voters Russell brings to the polls, the better are Burns’s chances in the special. Russell’s campaign should be “Vote for Russell in the Primary, and Burns in the Special,” which would go a long way towards improving Russell’s image against district Republicans that were disgusted by his bad sportsmanship (including claim that he would write-in his own name in the special). It is obviously in Russell’s best interests not only to project the image of a statesman, but to make sure that Democrat Mark Critz is not the incumbent when he faces him in November.
I didn’t want to bring up Russell’s snit fit, but yes, he did that. I think he was just blowing off steam. Still, it doesn’t speak well of him.
The fact is that Russell was a good anti-Murtha candidate. With Murtha gone, Russell’s unique qualifications become less essential.
I do want to emphasize that the selection of Burns wasn’t some cabal. As I understand it was a vote of over 100 activists, those who make the local party run, not a dozen party bosses.
It wasn’t as good as a primary, but you can’t have everything. I’m sure Russell feels like it’s his turn, but if he’s going to be involved in GOP politics, he has to be a team player.
Sometimes conservatives beat other conservatives. It happens.
That's an excellent point and it's quite accurate. I'm a Russell supporter and I'll be voting for Burns in the special election. I know alot of Russell supporters here in the district and everyone I've talked to will be doing the same. There's little doubt that Russell supporters will be out in force on May 18th and will definitely give a solid boost to Burns' vote totals in the special election. The main thing for all of us is making that a Republican seat. Burns problem won't come from Russell supporters, it will come from the third candidate on the special election ballot, the Libertarian.
The dynamics of the election remind me of the 2004 GOP Senate primary in GA, in which Herman Cain and Mac Collins were both claiming to be the pro-life, grassroots conservative alternative to country club Republican Johnny Isakson. Since Isakson was the frontrunner and GA has a run-off if no one gets 50%, both Cain and Collins supporters knew that the more votes that the other guy got, the higher the probability that Isakson would get below 50% in the primary and face either Cain or Collins in the run-off. Unfortunately, Isakson got 52% and avoided the run-off (although, to be fair, Isakson has been a pleasant surprise in the Senate).
Burns needs Russell’s supporters in order to win the special, and Russell needs Burns to win the special in order to avoid having to face a Democrat incumbent in November. I hope that Burns and Russell, conservative Republicans both, keep that in mind and refrain from running negative ads against each other.
“I hope that Burns and Russell, conservative Republicans both, keep that in mind and refrain from running negative ads against each other.”
I agree, it would be unwise for either of them to go negative.
There are distinct differences between the two men, however, and I think they can point them out if they choose too, as long as they’re honest and fair about it.
Here’s something I found interesting. Both Burns and Russell claim they are running for the people’s seat. The way they conduct fundraisers provides some insight into their different approaches.
From the Quinn & Rose WAR ROOM website events page http://www.warroom.com/appearances.php
......................................
Wednesday April 21st, 2010 5 pm to 8+ pm
River Forest Country Club
130 Clubhouse Drive
Freeport, PA
Lt. Colonel William Russell for Congress
Republican - PA 12th District
Social/Rally
Fund-raising social at 5 pm Get tickets($25.00) by calling 724-831-9976 or, email Mike mjm821@yahoo.com
RALLY at 7pm, FREE TO PUBLIC
Laube Hall
Freeport Community Park, Freeport, PA
Join Rose from 6-8 pm
Sponsored by Citizens for Constitutional Conservatives
.......................
Thursday April 22nd, 2010 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
DiSalvo’s Station, 325 McKinley Ave
Latrobe, PA
Join Senator Kim Ward, Senator Don White, William J. Donahue, Louis G. Galliker, Mark G. Miller, and James C. Roddey CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO A RECEPTION FOR Tim Burns, Candidate for the 12th Congressional District with Special Guest Speaker Newt Gingrich
6:30 p.m. VIP Co-Host Reception $4800/person, Includes photo opportunity
7:00-8:30 p.m. Reception, Reception Sponsors $1000/person, Reception Guests $150/person.
Please RSVP to Jen Holman at 717-903-3598 jen@statestreetstrategies.com
Doh! ;d
Agoris=concern troll
LOL! Zot!
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