PA-Gov, PA-07: Meehan Set to Run For Sestak's Seat

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Ruh-roh. From Roll Call (hat-tip: Johnny Longtorso):

Former U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan (R), who was running for governor of Pennsylvania in 2010, has begun making calls and telling supporters that he will run for the open 7th district seat instead, according to a GOP source in the Keystone State.

Meehan's campaign released a statement Friday afternoon announcing his departure from the gubernatorial race.

"Pat is more committed than ever to helping return Pennsylvania to a path of prosperity, and he is now seriously considering a run for congress in the Seventh Congressional District to fulfill that commitment,'' his spokeswoman said in a statement.

Meehan, as you may recall, previously squashed rumors that he was interested in running for Congress next year, but this looks like it's the real deal. (Perhaps he didn't really believe Sestak would go for the Senate race until he actually made it official.)

This is pretty bad news for Team Blue, as Meehan is the strongest possible candidate the GOP could put forward in this district -- and one with a very legitimate shot at turning this D+3 seat red. Before his stint as the Eastern District US Attorney, Meehan was the popular DA of Delaware County -- where the vast majority of this district's vote comes from. It remains to be seen whether the current GOP candidate in the race, local pharma magnate Steven Welch, will defer to Meehan, so the potential of a primary still exists here.

Democrats still have a very strong candidate of their own in Iraq vet/state Rep. Bryan Lentz (also from Delaware County), but state Rep. Greg Vitali, among others, is also considering it. While still boasting a GOP registration advantage, this district has taken a sharp turn toward the Blue in recent years, punctuated by Barack Obama's 56-43 win here in 2008. Still, if there's anyone who could successfully encourage voters to reconnect to their GOP roots, it's Meehan.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5393/pagov-pa07-meehan-set-to-run-for-sestaks-seat

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