Murtha Race Tightens After 'Racist,' 'Redneck' Remarks

[Doomsday101]

Rep. John Murtha, who recently called constituents in his western Pennsylvania town "racist" because Barack Obama may not win big there, is 4 points ahead of his Republican challenger, retired Army Lt. Col. William Russell, within the Susquehanna Poll's 4.9-point margin of error.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ordered the poll of 400 likely voters on Tuesday as discussion centered on Murtha's comments. The 18-term Democratic congressman apologized for his initial statement by saying he meant only that skin color will be a factor in the race between Obama and John McCain. Murtha later said many Western Pennsylvanians were "rednecks" until recent years.

Russell, who served in Iraq, is the first challenger to give Murtha a run for his money in years. His campaign told the newspaper it was buoyed by another statistic in the poll -- the 54 percent of voters who said it's time someone else represented them in Congress. Thirty-five percent say Murtha, a Vietnam veteran, should be re-elected.

The poll comes as internal polling leaked from the Obama camp showed the Democratic candidate only 2 points ahead of McCain in the Keystone State, suggesting the race is much closer than the Quinnipiac poll out Thursday that shows Obama with a 13-point lead in the state.

Pennsylvania voted for Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 election, but is seen as one of the few blue states that could swing red this year. McCain has spent considerable time in the state.

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a McCain supporter, said a lot of eyes are on Pennsylvania because of comments like Murtha's, as well as Obama's remarks about spreading the wealth and redistributing income as a means to prosperity.

"That really riles people up and they are citing that everywhere and they are upset about it," Brownback said of Murtha's remarks. "The politicians say, 'This is what I think about you folks here,' and they don't like it and they are fired up about it, and they're getting involved."

[WoodysGirl]

term limits....

guy's an idiot

[Doomsday101]

term limits....

guy's an idiot

Why can't voters be the term limit? We holler for it but if people in his district like him or dislike him shouldn't it be their choice to vote for him or against him? He is their representative only ones who should have a say are the people of his own district. In the meantime I heard Ed Rendell wanting Obama to get back to Pennsylvania because evidently their own internal polling is showing something much different that the published polling

[Trouble]

term limits....

guy's an idiot


Murtha is indeed a moron and the king of pork spending.


One of the the biggest crooks on Capital Hill....if not the biggest.





:starspin

[sacase]

If we can have term limits for the presidency we can have term limits for congress. They have no need to be there for more than 8 years and they do not need pensions.

[Kangaroo]

If we can have term limits for the presidency we can have term limits for congress. They have no need to be there for more than 8 years and they do not need pensions.

Yea the Pension stuff is a joke there we go several more millions termed from the budget

[Bach]

I hope the old man keeps talking. Everytime he opens his mouth the race gets tighter.

[JBond]

term limits....

guy's an idiot

He is the same idiot that claimed our Marines were guilty of horrific crimes before any hearings or trial took place. They were all found innocent. He has never apologised. He is being sued for slander by several involved. He is an embarrassment. Why do the libs keep supporting him by allocating millions for him in pork? Dems should be ashamed of that joke of a man.

But libs will prop him up forever because nothing is allowed to get in the way of their plans for control of congress. In this case they obviously are putting their pursuit of power ahead of doing the right thing.

[WoodysGirl]

Why can't voters be the term limit? We holler for it but if people in his district like him or dislike him shouldn't it be their choice to vote for him or against him? He is their representative only ones who should have a say are the people of his own district. In the meantime I heard Ed Rendell wanting Obama to get back to Pennsylvania because evidently their own internal polling is showing something much different that the published polling
I'm of the opinion that many people tend to vote who they're familiar with when it comes to voting. It doesn't mean lesser known candidates are viable candidates, but it's hard to beat out long-term incumbants. Especially when they're probably getting voted back in due to their name recognition. I liken it to pro bowl voting.

I don't have a problem with congressional pensions when they've been in congress for an extended period.

But if term limits were implemented, then there might not be a need for such pensions.

[Yeagermeister]

I'm of the opinion that many people tend to vote who they're familiar with when it comes to voting. It doesn't mean lesser known candidates are viable candidates, but it's hard to beat out long-term incumbants. Especially when they're probably getting voted back in due to their name recognition. I liken it to pro bowl voting.

I don't have a problem with congressional pensions when they've been in congress for an extended period.

But if term limits were implemented, then there might not be a need for such pensions.

We have that problem here in Memphis. When a member of a political family runs for an office they usually get elected because of their name. It will probably change now that one of them was put in jail for bribery.

Too bad we don't have term limits for our mayor. :(

[BrAinPaiNt]

I'm of the opinion that many people tend to vote who they're familiar with when it comes to voting. It doesn't mean lesser known candidates are viable candidates, but it's hard to beat out long-term incumbants. Especially when they're probably getting voted back in due to their name recognition. I liken it to pro bowl voting.

I don't have a problem with congressional pensions when they've been in congress for an extended period.

But if term limits were implemented, then there might not be a need for such pensions.

It's not just the name, although that is a huge part of it. It is also what they bring to the state in money, whether that be legit money, earmarks or pork barrel money.

That is why he gets elected over and over. Trust me, We have Byrd voted in term after term for those very reasons and as far out there as Murtha has become, he is nowhere are bad as Byrd as far as being a poor human being goes.

At least at one time Murtha was a good guy of sorts. I think his age has really got to him.

[Doomsday101]

I'm of the opinion that many people tend to vote who they're familiar with when it comes to voting. It doesn't mean lesser known candidates are viable candidates, but it's hard to beat out long-term incumbants. Especially when they're probably getting voted back in due to their name recognition. I liken it to pro bowl voting.

I don't have a problem with congressional pensions when they've been in congress for an extended period.

But if term limits were implemented, then there might not be a need for such pensions.

I understand where you are coming from and the frustration but I just have mixed feeling about term limits because it should be up to the voter to determine who is going to represent them. I'm not naive to think voters always know who they are voting for some go by name recognition as you said but then whose fault is that? I'm not saying you don't have a valid argument but it is an issue that I just have mixed feelings over

[JRid21]

It's not just the name, although that is a huge part of it. It is also what they bring to the state in money, whether that be legit money, earmarks or pork barrel money.

That is why he gets elected over and over. Trust me, We have Byrd voted in term after term for those very reasons and as far out there as Murtha has become, he is nowhere are bad as Byrd as far as being a poor human being goes.

At least at one time Murtha was a good guy of sorts. I think his age has really got to him.

Wasn't Byrd a KKK member when he was younger?

[Trouble]

It's not just the name, although that is a huge part of it. It is also what they bring to the state in money, whether that be legit money, earmarks or pork barrel money.

That is why he gets elected over and over. Trust me, We have Byrd voted in term after term for those very reasons and as far out there as Murtha has become, he is nowhere are bad as Byrd as far as being a poor human being goes.

At least at one time Murtha was a good guy of sorts. I think his age has really got to him.

I agree with everything you said, however, I do question if Murtha was ever really a good guy?

Not long after Murtha first came to Washington he was deeply involved in ABSCAM, and the only thing that saved his political career was rolling-over on his colleagues and co-conspirators.




:starspin

[burmafrd]

Murtha has been and always was a punk and a thug and a creep.