Paul Kanjorski

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta is leading U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) by 8 points a month before Election Day, according to an internal Barletta campaign poll.

The two are vying for the 11th Congressional District seat, in what is considered Pennsylvania's most competitive House race. The survey of 397 voters, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, closely matches the results of an independent Franklin & Marshall poll last month.

In the Barletta poll, the challenger edges the longtime incumbent 47 percent to 39 percent, with 11 percent undecided. The poll also shows Kanjorski, considered by some to be the most vulnerable Democrat in Congress, having low approval ratings, with only 32 percent of respondents saying he deserves reelection.

Kanjorski campaign spokesman Ed Mitchell said: "We intend to win the only poll that matters--the one on Election Day."

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Philadelphia) endorsed congressional candidate Lou Barletta on Monday, a move that could help the Hazelton mayor win moderate voters in the largely Democratic district. 

Barletta faces U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) this fall in the 11th Congressional District, considered one of the country's most competitive races.

Specter and Barletta do not see eye-to-eye on every issue, especially immigration. Barletta has become known nationwide for his anti-illegal immigration stance while mayor of Hazelton.

Specter is considered a much more moderate Republican and has advocated for degree of amnesty for illegal aliens in the past.

But the two had only kind words for each other in a statement released by Barletta's campaign.

"Lou Barletta has won the confidence of both parties and that's really quite an accomplishment," Specter said. 

If U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) caught flak from constituents for his support of a $700-billion bailout bill that failed to pass the House Monday, he didn't show it today.

Kanjorski, considered by many to be the most vulnerable Democrat in Congress, again supported a bailout package, this time voting for amended legislation approved by the Senate.

Kanjorski is facing a tough challenge from Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta in the 11th Congressional District. After Kanjorski's initial vote for the bill Monday, his campaign spokesman said the longtime incumbent had "stood up for the principle" and did not "take into account political considerations."

When your line of attack agaisnt your opponent is they are neglecting their duties as an elected official, but then admit the opponent is attending all their meetings, it's time for a new line of attack. That lands Tony Bompiani on this week's Winners & Losers list.

Of the three Democratic incumbents in Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation widely considered to be vulnerable in November, U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) was the only one who voted in favor of Monday's failed bailout bill.

On Tuesday, his campaign spokesman acknowledged that he "can't predict how this matter will play out" politically, but he defended the Kanjorski's vote as one of prinicple over politics.

"The Congressman stood up for the principle and did the right thing for the country," spokesman Ed Mitchell told PolitickerPA.com in an e-mail. "Some people may see that as a mistake today, but he didn't take into account political considerations. In a few days or a couple of weeks, he may be proven right."

He also sought to refocus the campaign issue on what he called the shifting positions of Kanjorski's opponent, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.

"You just can't trust Barletta," Mitchell said.

Though he won't be suspending his reelection campaign, U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) says he'll stay in Washington as long as it takes to address the financial crisis.

"I have already stated that Congress must stay in Washington until we address this current economic crisis and draft legislation," Kanjorski told PolitickerPA.com in a statement. "I also chose to stay in Washington last weekend, instead of going back to Northeastern Pennsylvania because this crisis must be addressed immediately."

Kanjorski is facing a strong challenge from Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta in the 11th Congressional District. 

As Democratic candidates for Congress around the country return campaign contributions from Congressman Charlie Rangel after his tax evasion admission, PA-11 Congressman Paul Kanjorski again proves he is his own man and no one is going to tell him what to do. Rangel is scheduled as a guest at a Washington D.C. fundraiser tonight for Kanjorski.

WASHINGTON – Two months after announcing its advertising plans for more than 50 districts across the country, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is making public its plans for defending an additional two incumbents in hotly contested races in Pennsylvania.

The DCCC tells PolitickerPA.com it will spend a total of $2.2 million combined this year to defend U.S. Reps. Chris Carney and Paul Kanjorski. Carney, a freshman, is facing a battle against Republican Chris Hackett, a staffing company executive. Kanjorski, a 12 term incumbent, is running against Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.

The committee has begun airing advertisements in both districts. To date, the DCCC has aired $220,000 worth of advertisements on behalf of Kanjorski and $37,000 in support of Carney. The DCCC went on the air with its first ad in support of Carney over the weekend.