Tim Holden (D-PA) becomes second House incumbent to be ousted by challenger

[Dennis Olson]

Holden becomes second House incumbent to be ousted by challenger

By Chad Pergram

Published April 24, 2012

| FoxNews.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA) became the latest member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition to fall Tuesday after failing to win his district's Democratic primary.

Holden’s loss could be a harbinger for other Blue Dogs seeking reelection this year amid redistricting and a difficult political environment for moderate lawmakers. Holden also becomes the second incumbent House member to lose to a primary challenger. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) lost her primary last month.

Attorney Matt Cartwright defeated Holden. Cartwright raised $300,000 more than Holden during the first quarter and poured in $390,000 of his own money into the primary. He also benefited from the anti-incumbent super PAC Campaign for Primary Accountability’s $200,000 ad campaign against Holden.

It was an uphill battle for Holden from the start as he faced a district that was 80 percent new territory. The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania state legislature redrew Holden’s district to include more Democratic-leaning areas – and fewer voters familiar with his 19-year House tenure. In contrast, Cartwright had more name recognition due to a local TV presence and close ties to the northeastern Pennsylvania area’s Democrats.

Holden bucked his party on several major issues, including cap-and-trade legislation and the 2010 health care reform bill Cartwright unseated the incumbent largely in part by framing his voting record as too conservative for a district with a high concentration of Democrats..

The 2010 midterm elections washed out the ranks of many centrist members of Congress, including several Blue Dogs. Twenty-four members remain, but five intend not to seek reelection. Still others, like Holden, face shaky electoral prospects.
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[OldArcher]

Holden becomes second House incumbent to be ousted by challenger

By Chad Pergram

Published April 24, 2012

| FoxNews.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA) became the latest member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition to fall Tuesday after failing to win his district's Democratic primary.

Holden’s loss could be a harbinger for other Blue Dogs seeking reelection this year amid redistricting and a difficult political environment for moderate lawmakers. Holden also becomes the second incumbent House member to lose to a primary challenger. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) lost her primary last month.

Attorney Matt Cartwright defeated Holden. Cartwright raised $300,000 more than Holden during the first quarter and poured in $390,000 of his own money into the primary. He also benefited from the anti-incumbent super PAC Campaign for Primary Accountability’s $200,000 ad campaign against Holden.

It was an uphill battle for Holden from the start as he faced a district that was 80 percent new territory. The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania state legislature redrew Holden’s district to include more Democratic-leaning areas – and fewer voters familiar with his 19-year House tenure. In contrast, Cartwright had more name recognition due to a local TV presence and close ties to the northeastern Pennsylvania area’s Democrats.

Holden bucked his party on several major issues, including cap-and-trade legislation and the 2010 health care reform bill Cartwright unseated the incumbent largely in part by framing his voting record as too conservative for a district with a high concentration of Democrats..

The 2010 midterm elections washed out the ranks of many centrist members of Congress, including several Blue Dogs. Twenty-four members remain, but five intend not to seek reelection. Still others, like Holden, face shaky electoral prospects.
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http://www.foxnews.comhttp://www.fox...by-challenger/

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012...#ixzz1t4tODGTi

Strange, ain't it? The PTB of the GOP are so FOS, because they won't help a Blue-Dog Democrat stay in the race... Yeah, boy, the GOP is too big, to ensure that ANYBODY that isn't PC, won't get elected... The GOP, like the DNC, is the party of the status quo... Damn them both, for having forsaken the Constitution of the United States, and not looking out for the best interests of "We the People..."

Damn all Liberal/Progressive/Socialist/Communist/and Nazi politicians and their brainless drones...

OA, out...

[Chocolatier]

Don Manzullo(R) got the boot here after 20 years. Not sure if the count includes him.

[Wildweasel]

From all the TV ads running around here, you'd have thought Cartwright was running agingst George W Bush, not Holden. Many ads featured crap like "Holden voted for Bush's energy policy and against Obama's Green Energy plans" as the main point.

Cartwright ran as a very liberal Democrat and invoked local natives Joe Biden and Bob Casey in his ads to appeal to Scranton area seniors. He has been running ads for his law firm featuring himself and his wife for several years to lay the groundwork for this political run.

Of course, if he gets into Congress maybe it will mean the end of those miserable Munley, Munley and Cartwright law firm ads on local TV.

WW

[KKC]

Just another indicator that OsamObama can still win a second term.

[wintery_storm]

Wildweasel:

The Voter needs to beware of Cartwright. He is part of the Democrat family that has helped illegal immigrants! Judge Munley(yes from the same Law firm and now a Federal Judge in Scranton,Pa) stopped now Congressmen Lou Barletta from enforcing the Illegal Immigration Act. I being a Tea Party person heard Low Baretta explain to the audience that people need to know who they vote for as was the case with now Judge Munley.

I will never give Munley's or Cartwrights any business after I found out about that.
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/app...tion-1.1001574



www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmzMoL8z9W4

[Bad Hand]

They don't call the GOP the stupid party for nothing they earn that title everyday.