What is Toomey's district like?

[leyton]

NC DUer here who is following the Toomey/Specter race. I have a question: what is Toomey's district like? That is, is it centrist? Ultra-right wing? His campaign website calls it a Democratic leaning district. The reason I ask is because I wonder what type of people keep electing him to Congress - are they representative of Pennsylvania is a whole?

Thanks!

[JohnKleeb]

1. Gore actually won there last time in 2000 so that prolly means Clinton did

too, oh and if I recall right, before Tomney, a very anti Clinton dem held it.

[JPZenger]

11. Were Many Weak Candidates on the Demo Side in 15th District

Toomey's district is middle of the road with the typical mix of democratic cities, many retired union people, and growing republican suburbs. Because of gerrymandering, it is one of the few truly competitive congressional districts in the U.S.

In his House elections, Toomey NEVER ran as a strong conservative. I surprised to find him portrayed as ultra-conservative. Toomey swung to the right to run against Specter.

The Democrats in the District have had a tough time finding strong candidates. That is the main reason why Republicans had control of the District during many years.

The District was controlled by a union-connected old-time Democrat during the 1970s. Then an ultra-conservative Republican had the seat in the 1980s - with incredibly weak Democratic candidates running against him. When the Democrats finally found a strong moderate candidate, Paul McHale, he won the seat and was reelected. Then McHale decided not to run for re-election, and Toomey was elected. Then Toomey decided to comply with his own three-term limit and did not run for the House.

This year, the Democrats again had a tough time findng a viable candidate. The Democrats recruited and nominated Driscoll - who lives 20 miles outside the District. Driscoll is running against Charlie Dent. Dent is a personable moderate Republican State Senator who had to run hard against two conservatives to get the Republican nomination.

[liskddksil]

2. The 15th district

The fifteenth district where I currently attend college, actually has more registered dems than repugs. The problem has been poor candidates to go up against Toomey. Now that the seat is open the democrats have a chance with Joe Driscoll, a former businessman, who has been endorsed by Ed Rendall and other part leaders against Charlie Dent.

[happyslug]

3. Some fast facts:

http://fastfacts.census.gov/servlet/CWSFacts?geo_id=50000US4215&_sse=on

[IronLionZion]

4. It's not right-wing

Allentown is kind of moderate Democratic. People tend to vote for the individual rather than party so a strong Dem candidate could spank this delusional right-wing nutcase.

This makes for a very interesting if not hilarious primary campaign. For once the Dems are united and the Reps are in an all-out civil war!

Here's what Ann the Man has to say about Specter:
http://www.anncoulter.org/columns/2004/042104p.htm

[struggle4progress]

5. Does the question even make sense? eom

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. There are more registered Democrats that Republicans

It used to be a heavily industrialized area with a lot of union families (remember the Billy Joel song 'Allentown?'). The economy is now mostly light industry and service based.

Although there are more registered Democrats than Republicans, both parties have had success here. During the mid 90's the three largest cities had Republican mayors despite them being Democratic strongholds. Toomey's predecessor was a Democrat.

[ButterflyBlood]

7. a DINO

he was the first Democrat to express support for the partisan witchhunt and impeachment of the man in your signature, probably because he was retiring anyway and wanted attention. I hear * appointed him to some position awhile ago, what an opportunistic scumbag.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. He is more liberal than several of the other PA Democratic congressmen

http://www.conservative.org/98ratings/ND2SD.htm

There were (and still are) more conservative Democrats representing the Keystone state in Congress.

McHale managed to knock of a seven-term Republican incumbent in 1992 to win his house seat. He is the only Democrat who has managed to win the seat since the late 70's.

[lancdem]

9. I had forgotten McHale supported impeachment

I don't think he actually was that conservative.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. He was pro-choice, supported gun control,

and voted against NAFTA. Not conservative at all.