Bill Clinton

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CARTOONING THE ELECTION

JOHNSTOWN -- Republican GOP candidate Bill Russell said at a press conference Monday that U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) has used lies and fear to try and hold onto voters in the 12th Congressional District.

"In the past week, I have watched my opponent employ a strategy that combined lying about me and my family with spreading the fear that this district cannot survive without the constant infusion of new earmarks," Russell said.

The suddenly high-profile GOP congressional candidate held a press conference immediately after Murtha's rally with former President Bill Clinton to criticize the 34-year incumbent and lay out his plans for economic growth, which center on coal-plant development.

Although once an afterthought in even Republicans' minds, Russell and his campaign are on the precipice of pulling the shock of the election season against a congressman many thought invulnerable to Election Day challenges.

Democratic congressional candidate Kathy Dahlkemper will campaign with former President Bill Clinton tomorrow in Erie, her campaign told PolitickerPA.com.

The 4:15 rally, ostensibly for Barack Obama, could end up benefiting Dahlkemper more. She is engaged in a tight race against U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Erie) in the 3rd Congressional District, and the visibility granted by appearing with Clinton could give her a final push a day before Nov. 4..

An internal poll released by the English campaign shows the 14-year incumbent up 2 points, although two independent polls taken earlier this month show Dahlkemper with a lead.

The former president has a busy day in Pennsylvania Monday. He will attend a mid-day rally for U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) before campaigning in the evening with U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke).

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Brian X. Foley with David Paterson.

A new poll from Siena College [PDF] of six key State Senate races show Democrats on the verge of ousting an incumbent on Long Island, and successfully defending a seat in Erie County, but losing in Buffalo--and possibly even in Queens.

If the results of the Siena poll hold on Election Day, Democrats will gain one State Senate seat, and have a decent chance of winning a second--and the coveted majority. But many races are tight.

Democratic challenger Brian Foley has opened up a twenty two-point lead (56-34) against incumbent Republican Caesar Trunzo [clarified]. In Siena's September poll, Trunzo led Foley 46 to 40 percent.

Suddenly embattled U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) is calling high-profile Democrats across the country for money and support as he tries to fend off Republican challenger Bill Russell.

On Monday, he'll receive help from one of the Democrats' biggest guns: Bill Clinton.

The former president will attend a get-out-the-vote rally for the 17-term incumbent Monday afternoon at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

It will the first of two stops Monday by Clinton for embattled Pennsylvania congressman. He will campaign later in the day for U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke), who, like Murtha, faces a stiff test this year after cruising to victory in 2006.

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Former President Bill Clinton with Linda Stender in the closing days of the 2006 campaign

CRANFORD -- Speaking in support of Assemblywoman Linda Stender's congressional bid at Union County College today, former President Bill Clinton said Hillary had sent him.

"She said that New Jersey had been good to me and good to her, and we needed to be good to New Jersey by helping Linda Stender get elected to Congress," said Clinton.

Clinton spent the bulk of his time giving his usual stump speech for Barack Obama, but he started off by rattling off some of Stender's accomplishments in the legislature.  He characterized her as an integral part of a sweeping change needed in Washington.

"I have reviewed Linda Stender's record very carefully, and if you look at the needs of America today, I think you can make a very compelling case that she has a record that is one of the finest not only in the legislature in New Jersey, but in the entire United States of America," he said.

Clinton specifically mentioned Stender's global warming bill, her previous work dealing with mortgages, her support for stem cell research and her bill to ban junk food in school cafeterias.

He also demonstrated some familiarity with her last race against now-retiring U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson.

"She lost by 3,000 votes last time.  There are enough people in this room to turn 3,000 votes between now and Tuesday," he said.

He was less familiar with the margins he won New Jersey by in his two elections.  Clinton said he won the first time by one percent, and the second time by 15 percent.

"We haven't won by less since," he said. (John Kerry beat President Bush in the New Jersey by 6%).

Yesterday, Union County Republican Chairman Phil Morin faxed a letter to the president and the communications head of Union County College to ask why they were making an exception to their own policy in order to host Bill Clinton’s rally for Democratic Congressional candidate Linda Stender tomorrow.

So far, he has not heard back from either of them.

So today, Morin fired off an email, this time to Trustee Edward J. Hobbie, complaining that the college’s staff was avoiding him.

“In your capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees and vice chair of the Board of Governors of the College, I am requesting that you inquire why they are ducking me and the media on this issue and why they are allowing partisan political activity on campus when the facility use rules and regulations specifically prohibit it,” wrote Morin (Hobbie’s brother Mark responded immediately to Morin, saying that he would try to reach Edward).