This blog is supposed to be Delco-centric, but to ignore Bucks County this election cycle would just be irresponsible. The 8th Congressional District race – “The Rematch” – between Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy and Republican Mike Fitzpatrick is heating up. Fast.
You have to be skeptical of internal polls. But, in addition to Fitzpatrick’s recent poll giving him a 7-point lead, Murphy’s own pollster says the race is virtually tied. The Global Strategy Group survey commissioned in mid-August by the Murphy campaign gives Murphy only a 47-43 lead (within the margin of error) over Fitzpatrick, whom Murphy unseated in 2006 by less than 1 percentage point. The accompanying polling memo predicts “a very tight race.”
“The race has taken on new importance,” Franklin & Marshall College pollster G. Terry Madonna said today. “It now has to be regarded as competitive.” National political pundits are putting Murphy’s district – previously considered relatively safe Democratic territory – in the “toss-up” column and the National Republican Congressional Committee is starting to dump cash into the race.
If you haven’t been following this one, you should start. Especially if you live in the 8th District. Check out tomorrow’s Daily News for a primer and some additional coverage of their first debate, which was taped Wednesday, but won’t air until 9:30 p.m. Sunday on Larry Kane’s “Voice of Reason” show.
Update: Today's story and a copy of the Murphy poll memo, dated Aug. 27.
Well, the two things I have seen so far on philly.com from the "Daily Delco" have been about a race in Montgomery County, and now a race in Bucks County...— fafafooey- I won't hold my breath for the "primer" in the Daily News on this race. We can't expect objective reporting on it from the Inquirer or Daily News - they will no doubt be endorsing their boy Murphy, their party's candidate, the self-proclaimed "moderate, Blue Dog" who votes with 0bamaPelosiReid 98% of the time...— fafafooey
- Murphy is a fraud.— FrankRizzosGhost
- Murphy is a liar. He claims to be fiscally responsible yet has voted with Pelosi for every big spending bill put forth without care of what it will do to our economy or our children. He voted for a health care bill he knew would increase the cost of health insurance in Pennsylvania by over 50% for many of his constituents. He didn't care because he's a liberal Democrat.— ResponsibleAmerican
- A poll generated from any campaign is going to be skewed. There are way more Fitzpatrick signs out there than Murphy. Murphy should have had an easier ride to re-election in '08, but only won with 56%. Honestly, I haven't talked to anyone that says they will vote for him in November. While it's true that our area has had a major influx of Philly Democrats, I think Fitzpatrick gets the seat back.— fahtdaddie
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
