PA-17: Republicans may dump Ryan on character issues

[goobergunch]

By Justin Quinn
Aug 9, 2003, 10:34 EST
Intelligencer Journal

The messy divorce of a former Lancaster County resident could
hurt his hopes to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Holden next year.

Republican leaders in Harrisburg are urging Cornwall Republican
Francis X. "Frank" Ryan to drop out of the race for the 17th
Congressional District, based on court records detailing
allegations of spousal abuse, nonpayment of child support and a
psychologist's diagnosis that he has a personality disorder.

Mike Long, director of the state Senate Republican Campaign
Committee, told The Patriot News of Harrisburg that Ryan will have
a tough time winning, given his background.

"You can tell from those documents that Frank Ryan will be
called a wife-beater, and he will be called a deadbeat dad, and
you're simply not going to win with those labels wrapped around
you," Ryan told the newspaper.

more...http://www.lancasteronline.com/articles/3373.shtm

Holden holds a fairly conservative seat...the more problems the Repukes have, the better.

:evilgrin:

[ButterflyBlood]

1. Holden's a DINO but

he's still better than whatever wingnut that district would elect otherwise. good news.

[jiacinto]

3. He represents the district well

For PA-17 you aren't going to get a far left Democrat. You just aren't. Any other Democrat to the left of Holden would not win this seat, especially with Perry, Dauphin, and Lebanon counties--Republican strongholds to the coure--now in the district.

[davidinalameda]

2. cool

will this be a safe seat for us?

[jiacinto]

4. PA-17 is no safe seat for a Democrat

Redistricing made it more Republican.



Dauphin, Lebanon, and Perry counties are heavily Republican. These counties will always be hard for Holden to win. He thrashed Gekas in the Reading part of the district, while losing everywhere else.