Out of nowhere, Democrat puts GOP congresswoman to the test

[ProSense]

Posted on Sat, Oct. 28, 2006

Out of nowhere, Democrat puts GOP congresswoman to the test

JENNIFER C. YATES
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - This summer, many people were referring to Republican Rep. Melissa Hart's challenger as "Jason who?" What a difference a few months can make.

Political newcomer Jason Altmire has taken on a higher profile through a television advertising blitz and visits from Democrats like party head Howard Dean and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

With at least one recent poll showing the candidates about even, Republicans have responded by pouring money into TV ads.

"I think that reading the tea leaves - which is how the money is being spent - it seems pretty clear that the race is too close for comfort for the Republican point of view," said Michael L. Young, a retired public affairs professor from Penn State-Harrisburg who now runs an opinion research firm.

more...

From TMP Cafe:

PA-04 Pitt. Trib. Oct 25 Hart (R) 46%, Altmire (D) 42%

WaPo doesn't mention the PA-04 race:

Watching the Battle for Control in the House and Senate -- Oct. 28, 2006

[blm]

1. Dean and Kerry AGAIN for the unknowns. Along with Clark and Cleland

they are proving an ALL-STAR Dem campaign team.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Imagine the DEM team back in charge

There is so much talent in our party and the top leadership reflects that.

For the first time that I can remember there are so many good DEM candidates for President I can't pick just one. But no matter who it is, their cabinet will look like the Dream Team, especially compared to the crooks from Bush's team.

[SouthernBelle82]

13. Yep!

They're doing great. I think it's a good strategy to spend more money on actually campaigning instead of just TV ads. Getting out to meet the people and talking with them is I think the best way to go.

[Rose Siding]

3. The DCCC is finally helping in that race, too-

Altmire was put on their "Red to Blue" list yesterday, which will add funding and gotv efforts for him.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Democrafty]

4. Wow.

I don't live in Hart's district anymore, but I'd still love to see her gone.

[blm]

7. You and about 60 million Dems in this country. heheh

.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Did you see this?

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_10_22_atrios_archive.ht...

Her office is "open for business", but apparently when her constituents brings her "donuts", she calls the police. These Republicans sure have a strange notion about representitive democracy.

[ProSense]

6. Wonder if this even

made it into the local papers?

[momster]

9. I'll bet she kept the donuts....

after the police broke up the granny-gang.

[ProSense]

8. Video: news report includes Hart's statement on "real problems"

Posted at DCCC site:

PA-04: "Real Problems"

[wakeme2008]

10. That will cost her votes

[sendero]

11. Don't you love it when....

... GOP analysts want to help out our campaigns.

Like this, from the article:

"GOP pollster Neil Newhouse said he believes Altmire's ads have hurt his campaign.

"This race was closer about ten days ago," Newhouse said during a conference call with reporters Thursday. "Immediately after Jason Altmire started running his negative ads, the numbers absolutely did close.""

Gee Neil thanks for your advice. We'll be sure to stop running those "negative" (read, truth telling) ads now that you've given us the straight dope.

[blm]

12. Right - the "concern trolls" we are supposed to heed.

The corpmedia sure does lap it up.