Melissa Hart

Tom Cole, the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee will be in state on Wednesday to campaign for former Congresswomen Melissa Hart.  Cole and Hart will hold a joint press conference at the Ingomar Gulf gas station to discuss energy and energy exploration. 

Congressional candidate Melissa Hart has received the endorsement of Firearm Owners Against Crime, a Second Amendment Political Action Committee that could help her pro-gun credentials after her opponent, U.S. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless), received the NRA endorsement.

FAOC has 60,000 "contacts" across the state and is the state's largest pro-gun PAC, according to a release from Hart's campaign,

Kim Stolfer, chairman of the group, credited the former congresswoman for her dedication to protecting Second Amendment Rights.

"Unfortunately the same cannot be said for her opponenent as the incumbent has avoided making the tough decisions when it comes to choosing between politics and citizens freedoms," Stofler said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) reiterated Tuesday his support of a bill that would allow expanded offshore domestic oil drilling, telling PolitickerPA.com in an interview that despite his earlier opposition, the bi-partisan compromise must be voted on by Sept. 30 to advance the country's energy debate.

The western Pennsylvania congressman received national attention earlier this week when George Stephanopoulos highlighted Altmire's position while interviewing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Pelosi has opposed a vote on the bill that would expand oil drilling on the country's coastline, but the "This Week" host quoted Altmire saying that the House "cannot wait any longer" on the measure.

Altmire told PolitickerPA.com that many Democrats, including the 24 who co-sponsored the compromise energy bill, have challenged Pelosi's position, and he said the Speaker of the House knows her stance might soon be toppled by rank-and-file members who will bring t he measure for a vote by Sept. 30.  

"Well, I can't speak for her, but I think she realizes she's starting to lose her grip on this issue," he said. "The PR battle has been lost." 

Former Congresswomen Melissa Hart has issued the following statement on the endorsement of the NRA for her opponent Congressman Jason Altmire.

“The Washington, D.C. NRA group has a policy of giving endorsement preference to incumbents if they have not voted against NRA issues.

Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire picked up a major endorsement today when the National Rifle Association endorsed his candidacy against Melissa Hart. The NRA endorsement is a major blow to Hart who needs every conservative group she can obtain to rally behind her and work for her effort to take back the seat she lost two years ago.

The conservative group Freedom's Watch has unleashed yet another round of robocalls, this one attacking Democrats in Congress for "standing between us and billions of barrels of American oil."

The robocall campaigns are being run in New Hampshire, Arizona, California, Kentucky, New York, Illinois, Florida and Ohio, as well as in Pennsylvania.

With similar scripts, the Pennsylvania calls are targeting U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) in the 4th Congressional District, Chris Carney (D-Dimock) in the 10th Congressional District and Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke City) in the 11th Congressional District.

The voice on the call reminds listeners that President Bush recently lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling, and blames its Democratic targets for stopping increases in domestic oil production. It gives listeners a number of times that each target has "sided with Nancy Pelosi and liberals in Congress instead of us" and urges listeners to call the target.

"Tell him to stop standing between the American people and American oil," the call closes.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire: Campaign photoU.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) continues to maintain a cash advantage over challenger Melissa Hart in a matchup of two of the state's fundraising heavyweights.

Altmire raised about $456,000 in the second quarter, bringing his total fundraising take to $1.57 million.

His totals overshadow a strong quarter from Hart, who raised almost $300,000 in the second quarter. She now has roughly $624,000 in cash on hand.

Coal is any western Pennsylvania lawmaker's best friend.

But congressional candidate Melissa Hart says her opponent, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless), doesn't vote like it.

"I see him as not a friend of coal," Hart told PolitickerPA.com in an interview last week.

She particularly harped on his decision not to include coal as an alternative energy, and the former congresswoman suggested his reluctance to do so might stem from intra-party pressure.

Freshman Congressman Jason Altmire had another successful fundraising quarter as he brought in nearly $460k and ended the second quarter with more than $1.5 million in the bank.  Altmire’s opponent Melissa Hart raised $300k and finished with $625k in the bank.

In a post earlier this month I wrote about Melissa Hart, “Hart is known for her work ethic and willingness to make money calls when she needs to. Well she needs to. Hart will need to put up a bigger number than she did in the first quarter…” It appears Hart made those calls. After a disappointing first quarter where Hart raised $141k, she more than doubled her take in the 2nd quarter and has reported $300k raised over the last three months and finishes the quarter with $625k cash on hand.