A model for winning Hillary districts
Earlier this week, I sat down with Lou Barletta, the mayor ofHazelton, PA -- just named PA's Mayor of the Year -- and the GOP nominee for Congress inPA-11 against Paul Kanjorski, an old-school, corrupt, machineDemocrat. I know a little bit about the region, as my mom spends abunch of time with her cousin who lives just outside of thedistrict. At the end of June, I spent the better part of the day atthe AnthraciteMuseum, where I learned about the coal mining industry thatused to be the economic core of the district.
About 15 seconds into talking to Barletta, I thought "wow. Thisguy has something special." I am very cynical about politicians,especially Congressmen. They don't have to be very charismatic or,often, smart. Barletta is both. And I was disinclined to like himbecause I disagree with his hard-core immigration position, which could well put him overthe top in this race.
Throughout the conversation, I learned more and more about thedistrict, Barletta, and Kanjorski. I think that we can winthis seat with this guy, even in this environment. His campaignreleased a poll that shows him up 47-42, which the DCCC believes enoughto put up ads against him.
The upshot is that if you want to the GOP pick up a seat,giveLou Barletta some money. If you want to stop illegalimmigration, giveLou Barletta some money. If you to get rid of a corrupt Democrat who gives taxpayer dollars to his campaign staffand family, giveLou Barletta some money. If you want to highlight Democratic use of earmarks, giveLou Barletta some money. if you want to stop a Democrat who admits to lying about the war for politicalgain, giveLou Barletta some money. If you want to stop a Democrat whosays one thing about our security in Washington and another at home,giveLou Barletta some money, If you want to send a message toCongress that we need to develop more domestic energy sources,giveLou Barletta some money. Or if you want to support a model of conservative government at the local level, giveLou Barletta some money.
But there is a very deep thing going on here that might be thebest reason of all. If you want to send a message that playingalong with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi is no way to representgod-fearing, hard-working, working-class values, then giveLou Barletta some money. Barletta may offer a concrete model ofhow to win in a district like gave Hillary Clinton 75% of theDemocratic primary vote.
I am going to write a lot more on Barletta. I think that he is amodel for how we can continue to cut into Democratic districts inOhio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. But in the mean time, giveLou Barletta some money.
Cross-posted from The Next Right.