Republican Jim Gerlach (PA-06) Not Running for Re-election in 2014

[blue neen]

"The wave of House GOP retirements continued Monday, with Rep. Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania announcing that he will not seek reelection in 2014 — a decision that opens the door for Democrats to compete for the swing seat."

"It’s the third retirement in less than a month that has imperiled a Republican-held seat and one of several that will diminish the ranks of GOP moderates. In December, Republican Reps. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa) said they were vacating their spots. And in November, New Jersey Rep. Jon Runyan, another occupant of a competitive district, announced that he would step down after the end of the current term."

"Gerlach, a moderate House Republican who holds a seat on the Ways and Means Committee, was elected to the suburban Philadelphia-based 6th District in 2002."

<snip>

"Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney narrowly won Gerlach’s district in 2012, though then-Democratic hopeful Barack Obama won it on his way to the presidency in 2008. Gerlach’s departure means Republicans will be forced to defend a seat in the Philadelphia media market, where airing TV ads is costly."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/2014-election-jim-gerlach-not-running-101784.html#ixzz2peyreUfP

[Laelth]

1. Good. k&r n/t

-Laelth

[enough]

2. The difficulty is going to be finding a Democratic candidate with a chance of winning.

The R's have had most local and state offices in this area in their control for so long, there isn't much depth on the D bench. We have had a series of very well-meaning and good people run against Gerlach, but in the end the lack of political exposure does them in.

Hoping somebody has some good ideas about who it could be.

[blue neen]

5. I read about a couple of prospective candidates.

Don't know the real possibilities: Christopher Casey and current Governor candidate Katie McGinty.

[PRETZEL]

3. Not really sure if this seat would now be considered a toss up,

but it'll cost the Republicans a lot of money for a new puppet.

[MadrasT]

4. I was so excited when I heard this on the news yesterday...

...then I remembered I got redistricted into PA-07.

At least we maybe have a chance to grab district 6.