PA 11 - Barletta may challenge Kanjorski again.

[Mr.Phips]

Give me a break.  If Barletta could not even get close to Kanjorski in 2002, a great Republican year, he sure wont be able to in 2008.

[Mr.Phips]

You must remember that this district was packed with Democratic voters by the Republican legislature in order to make PA-10 safe for Sherwood, who barely won in 1998 and 2000.  The district now includes heavily Democratic Scranton and Wilkes-Barre all in the same district, making it nearly impossible for a Republican to crack 45% absent a huge scandal on the part of the incumbent.

[Mr.Phips]

This area is too Democratic for Lou Barletta to stand a decent chance of winning, short of a Sherwood-style scandal occuring after the primary. 

Even with current campaign by the RCC (I think) against Kanjorski sending money to a business run by his relatives, I see this as making a minor dip in his popularity, and won't be enough to carry thru to Nov 08.

Like I said before, if Barletta could only get 42% of the vote against Barletta in 2002, a very good Republican year while Kanjorski was being investigated, I don't see him winning in 2008.  I could see him holding Kanjorski to five to eight point win, but that is about it. 

[Mr.Phips]

he one both the dem and rep primaries in Hazelton so he's verry popular among voters.

Running in an election in a small town is much different than running in a race to be a foot soldier for John Boehner and Roy Blunt.