Damn! I so wanted Joe Pitts outa there.

[fencesitter]

he's like Bush mini-me. How can we be so Blue, yet re elect this guy again? By a big margain? I really liked Bruce Slater!

[happyslug]

1. Because Lancaster County went for Pitt almost 2-1

Break down by County form the Official Commonwealth of Pa Web Site:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=15&ElectionID=28&OfficeID=11&DistrictID=16

I remember the 1990 re-election of Bob Casey Sr as Governor, it was a landslide and one of the comment at that time was Casey in 1990 was the first Democratic Candidate for Governor to win Lancaster since the 1830s (Lancaster has been and continues to be GOP dominated). The 1990 election was the sole exception to the rule that Lancaster is the heart of the Republican party in Pennsylvania (It use to compete for that title with Philadelphia but Philadelphia went Democratic starting in the 1930s).

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. His district was drawn to include far more Republicans than Democrats

Due to that fact, it is very hard to recruit quality candidates.

[demodonkey]

3. Make sure that we win the General Assembly in 2010. They will do the next redistrict in 2011.

Whatever party controls the PA General Assembly in the 2010 election will control the way all district lines are drawn for Congress, State Senate, and State House during the next redistricting that will happen in 2011.

We need to win the General Assembly in 2010 and control the 2011 redistricting, or the GOP gerrymandering will continue.

And -- very important -- we need to win the open PA Supreme Court seat NEXT year, as the SCOPA will decide any redistricting disputes in 2011.

Not fond of gerrymandering by any party, but real reform was stalled by our recalcitrant legislature until probably 2021 (which will be the next redistricting unless something changes drastically).