10th District Republicans clash over abortion stances

With less than 24 hours until voters head to the polls for the primary, 10th Congressional district candidate Dan Meuser (R- Harvey’s Lake) is trying to show that his rival, Chris Hackett (R-Shavertown), hasn’t been honest about his position on abortion rights.

Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, who supports Meuser, told radio station WILK that Hackett, who is campaigning on a pro-life platform, told a group of Republican leaders that he was in favor of abortion rights.

Capitolwire’s Pete DeCoursey first wrote about the issue on April 18, and the Meuser campaign issued a press release Monday pushing the issue. According to DeCoursey’s report, Hackett had a private meeting 10 months ago with Northeastern Pennsylvania GOP leaders to discuss his possible bid for a seat in congress.

All four at the meeting recall Hackett repeatedly stating his pro-choice stance, but after their “strong negative reaction,” he switched positions, the report claims. Jack Sordini, Rusty and Hal Flack and Tom Medico, who are all Meuser supporters, were at the meeting.

It’s an attack that Hackett has denied before, and his campaign did so again on Friday.

“It is not true,” Hackett campaign manager Mark Harris told PolitickerPA.com. “If they had this 10 months ago then why wait until now?”

Meuser’s camp fired back that they were forced into pushing the issue.

“Chris Hackett’s negative and slanderous attacks on Dan Meuser have lead these leaders to set the record straight and answer reporters’ questions about Chris Hackett’s flip-flop on the abortion issue,” Meuser campaign manager Eric Wallace said. “Chris Hackett would have you believe that everyone, including these respected Republican Party leaders and Senator Rick Santorum are lying about his flip-flop, but the truth is Chris Hackett has displayed a pattern of deceit throughout this campaign.”

Hackett’s campaign manager responded:

“Chris Hackett is pro-life and will be a fighter in congress for pro-life causes. Dan Meuser’s desperate campaign has repeatedly hit new lows, but we’re confident that the voters will see through this. Chris is the only candidate by pro-life organization such as Concerned Women for America. Meanwhile, Dan Meuser is donating to pro-abortion candidates like Hillary Clinton, Charlie Rangel, and Ed Rendell.”