In Bucks Co. congressional race, both sides get a boost from Penn

College Republicans work for Manion, Penn Dems for Murphy in contest with Iraq focus

Mara Wishingrad

While most of the campus is focusing on the upcoming presidential election, the College Republicans and the Penn Democrats are also focusing on another race - one in which most Penn students will not be able to vote.

U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) is running for reelection against Republican challenger Tom Manion in the Philadelphia suburb of Bucks County. Though that race is not on the ballot in Philadelphia County, both the Penn Dems and College Republicans are campaigning for their respective candidates.

This is the “hottest election in Pennsylvania,” said College Republicans communications director and College junior Mike Tate.

“It’s a swing district we think we can win,” he added. In Bucks County, registered voters are nearly evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, with Democrats slightly ahead.

The race is a high-profile contest that centers on the Iraq War. Murphy, who won with just 50.3 percent of the vote in 2006, is the only Iraq veteran in Congress. Manion’s son was killed in Iraq in 2007.

The College Republicans, who primarily do phone banking and literature drops for Manion, contacted the campaign in the middle of the summer, according to Tate.

The group asked Manion to speak at its first meeting, according to David Borek, scheduler for the Manion campaign. Borek said Manion was available “and thought it was a good thing to do.”

“We have been working hand-in-hand since then,” he said.

The relationship benefits both groups, Borek said - the College Republicans get campaign experience, and “it helps us where we need extra muscle.”

The Penn Dems have had a relationship with the Murphy campaign since his first congressional race in 2006.

In the spring of 2006, the group got involved in a suburban congressional race “because none of the elections in Philly really mattered,” said Penn Dems president and College junior Lauren Burdette.

Penn Dems invited different candidates from nearby suburbs to come speak to the group and then voted to endorse Murphy, according to Burdette.

In the fall of 2006, “all our efforts were devoted to Bucks County,” Burdette said.

The group has continued to work for Murphy, making weekend trips to Bucks County to campaign for the congressman.

But this semester, Penn Dems has largely focused on voter registration on campus because most people in Bucks County are permanent residents and likely to already be registered, Burdette said.

In addition, Penn Dems has a few members interning for the campaign, according to Burdette, who was an intern there in 2006.

Nat Binns, press secretary for the Murphy campaign, said the Penn Dems “helped propel Patrick Murphy to victory” in 2006, and added that the campaign “is honored to again have the support of the Penn Dems - who have quickly become an influential political voice in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

Newspapers set three 8th District debates

By GARY WECKSELBLATT
The Intelligencer

The three candidates for Bucks County’s 8th District congressional seat have agreed to a series of debates and forums, two of which will be hosted by the Courier Times and The Intelligencer.

Incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy will meet with Republican challenger Tom Manion and independent candidate Tom Lingenfelter at eight events.

The Intelligencer debate is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Oct. 29 in the auditorium at Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown. The Courier Times debate is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol.

“We are fortunate that so many people in our area take a keen interest in politics,” said Lanny Morgnanesi, senior editor for The Intelligencer. “They want to meet the candidates and know their positions. They look toward the newspapers to help them with this, and that is why we have organized our two debates.

“We’ve been advised to expect a large turnout. That certainly was true for the congressional debates we held two years ago. Each house was packed, almost to the point where we could not accommodate everyone. The venues this year are somewhat larger and we don’t anticipate a problem.”

The 8th District includes all of Bucks County and portions of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia.

The formats for the two 90-minute newspaper debates will be similar. Each candidate will have a two-minute opening statement. They’ll have 90 seconds to respond to questions and there will be one minute rebuttals by the other candidates. There will also be a one-minute closing statement for each candidate.
Audience members will be able to submit questions at the debate. Readers can leave their questions by calling 215-949-4161 or by e-mail at debate@phillyburbs.com.

The Courier Times debate will focus on domestic issues and be moderated by Guy Petroziello, the newspaper’s editorial page editor. Morgnanesi and political reporter Gary Weckselblatt will be the questioners. Darryl Berger, program director at WNPV radio in Lansdale, will moderate The Intelligencer debate, where the focus will switch to international issues.

The three candidates will meet in three forums prior to the newspaper debates. The first is 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Tifereth-Israel Synagogue in Bensalem. The second follows that afternoon at 2 in Shir Ami Synagogue in Newtown.

Have a question for the candidates?
You can leave questions by calling 215-949-4046 or by going to debate@phillyBurbs.com.