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House Race Hotline

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House Race Hotline



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She's A Dahl?

Each party got a bit of good news coming out of the PA primary, and in each instance, a bit of luck was involved.

-- For the GOP, PA-10 primary voters ended picking the better of the candidates. While businessmen Chris Hackett (R) and Dan Meuser were nearly identical on issues, their true difference was in style. Hackett is more of a natural campaigner, while Meuser is more stiff and rigid. But Hackett had to overcome Meuser's establishment support, his checkbook, and last-minute attacks on his pro-life record, a not-so-small feat.

-- And for Dems, results in Rep. Phil English's (D) CD may reveal a sleeper candidate. Businesswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D) may not have been the party's first choice, but her pro-life profile is a good fit for this blue-collar, Catholic-heavy CD. She ran a very strong primary and came from nowhere to defeat candidates with higher name ID.

-- Both candidates overcame pretty big obstacles to win their primaries, preparing them for what will be very tough general elections, for Dahlkemper in particular. But in each instance, the parties got their best candidate.

PENNSYLVANIA 03 (R/ERIE -- ENGLISH)
14 Wonder Who Their Favorite Is?

The Erie Times editorializes, Lake Erie Arboretum dir. Kathy Dahlkemper (D) "looked like a seasoned veteran" as she scored a "decisive" Dem victory 4/22. She "never seemed intimidated" by the process, and her campaign was run "flawlessly."

Rep. Phil English (R) has a "reputation" for being a "strong, aggressive campaigner," but he couldn't be "more vulnerable." He "must defend the controversial" Iraq war and a "wounded economy." Dahlkemper's a "fresh face" running as a candidate "representing change."

For the "first time" since English won the seat in '96, the CD's voters "should have a great choice" in Nov. (4/24).

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