Kanjo on the air, Corey pounds the pavement

Congressman Paul Kanjorski is running just his 2nd spot of the campaign. It is a positive ad reminding us of his support for veterans. The fact that he is staying positive suggest to me that his polling shows him to be in good shape. If his camp was worried about his challenger they would be on the air ripping him a new asshole.





For what he lacks in cash Lackawanna Commissioner Corey O'Brien is making it up with shoe leather and a great field operation.

From pa2010.com


But O’Brien is unfazed, confident—and more full of energy than one is used to seeing in politics. He’s been called the most competitive House primary challenger in the country, and while conventional wisdom says he’ll get blown out of the water on Tuesday, O’Brien says his upset win will be nothing but expected.

“I don’t care what some pundits might say about the race,” O’Brien told pa2010.com while riding on his campaign RV earlier this month. “I see it every day. People are going to say on May 18 that this is ‘a shocker, a surprise.’ I’m not going to be surprised.”



The third candidate in the race is Brian Kelly who will hurt O'Brien by siphoning off some of the anti-Kanjo vote.

The TL earlier endorsed O'Brien but the Citizens Voice recommends sticking with the devil you know.


Endorsement: Paul Kanjorski

While Kanjorski has made missteps in his long tenure – chief among them the federal funding that he directed toward a company owned by family members – voters have had several election cycles to consider those missteps and have continued to support him...Because of his efforts to secure development in the district, the benefits of his seniority and his key role in finance-industry reform efforts aimed at protecting consumers and taxpayers in his district and beyond, Kanjorski deserves his party’s nomination.

The winner of the Democratic nomination will face Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta in the fall. Barletta had some fun this week sending out this snarky press release.

Kanjorski and O'Brien agree neither can beat Barletta in November
.
May 13th

Hazleton, PA – Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s primary election, 11th Congressional District candidate Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will win in November.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what the campaigns of Paul Kanjorski and Corey O’Brien said about Lou’s chances in the fall:

“There is zero chance Paul Kanjorski defeats Lou Barletta. Zero. Paul Kanjorski doesn’t have Barack Obama [on the ballot] and without Barack Obama and the way the country is swinging with Massachusetts, at the end of the day, this is an easy pickup for the Republican Party.” Corey O’Brien, Politico, February 3, 2010.

"Our polling data not only shows Kanjorski crushing O'Brien in the primary, but Barletta crushing O'Brien in the general." Kanjorski campaign spokesman Ed Mitchell, Scranton Times, March 4, 2010.

And here’s what Kanjorski himself said about his re-election chances this fall: “If the election is decided as a referendum on the last 14 months, this coming November, the Democrats are going to lose.” (Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Feb. 18, 2010)

“We’re grateful for the endorsements of both the Kanjorski and O’Brien campaigns. Lou Barletta is gaining momentum every single day, and Lou will be ready to take on the winner of Tuesday’s primary,” said Vince Galko, campaign spokesman for Mayor Barletta. “Of course, there’s much work yet to be done, and Lou Barletta will be out meeting with voters, talking about issues, raising money, and criss-crossing the 11th Congressional District. Lou will work hard for every vote.

“We’d like to wish all candidates luck, and we encourage everyone to get out and vote on Tuesday.”

A further indication that Kanjo is confidant is that he will be in Washington this week doing his job instead of doing a last minute campaign push in the district. Corey O'Brien has invited his supporters to join him at at P.J.'s 1910 Pub in the Hilton Scranton, 100 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA. The event is slated to begin at 8:00 pm. Brian Kelly hasn't announced any election night plans but will probably sipping a cup of tea somewhere.