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10-Termer [Rep] Weldon Learns to Run Hard [PA-7]
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| Contributor | ArmyDem |
| Last Edited | ArmyDem Jun 13, 2006 11:24pm |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Jun 13, 2006 11:00pm |
| Description | Pa. District May Be Ready for Change
By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 13, 2006; Page A09
BRYN MAWR, Pa. -- For 20 years, Rep. Curt Weldon has lived the charmed life of a member of Congress from a safe district.
Instead of traveling home every recess, the Pennsylvania Republican flew to hot spots such as Libya, North Korea and Russia. He brashly rapped Republican and Democratic administrations alike on foreign affairs. He raised minimal campaign cash and rarely had to explain his House votes to constituents. Speaking to a recent Main Line Kiwanis Club luncheon, Weldon recalled that he won his first term handily in 1986, and "that's pretty much been the case all along."
But this year, whenever the House takes a break, Weldon will head home to march in parades and host town meetings, and tout local development initiatives instead of missile defense. The combination of shifting demographics, angry voters and a feisty, well-funded Democratic opponent, retired Navy Vice Adm. Joseph A. Sestak Jr., is forcing Weldon to campaign hard for an 11th term. A recent Democratic poll showed Weldon leading Sestak by 51 percent to 41 percent -- a much smaller gap than the veteran lawmaker's previous general election margins.
For Democrats to take control of the House this November, they need a net gain of 15 seats. But with only seven open GOP seats considered competitive, Democrats must knock off at least eight Republican incumbents to achieve a political comeback. |
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