February 22, 2008 - 2:24pm
Ex-N.J. reporter running for Congress
By Wally EdgeThe latest New Jersey reporter to go through the revolving door to the partisan side of politics is Bill Cahir, who covered Washington, D.C. for the Newhouse News Service, which owns seven daily newspapers in New Jersey. Cahir is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in Pennsylvania’s fifth district – a Republican seat where incumbent John Peterson, the winner with 60% of the vote in 2006 – is not seeking re-election.
For Cahir, it’s an attempt to return to the partisan side of beltway politics. He started out as an aide to Senators Ted Kennedy and Harris Wofford before launching a 13-year career as a journalist. He also completed two tours of duty in Iraq.
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red-to-blue in Pa
2008 will hopefully be another year of huge congressional gains for Democrats, and Pa, just like N.J., seems ripe for the taking. Consider that, besides Cahir's bid in Pa-05, Gerlach is probably going to run out of luck in Pa-06, and Dent is a target in Pa-15. Unlike with the Democratic challengers for open seats or opposition-held seats, the Republicans are having trouble recruiting top candidates for congressional races across the country -- would you really want to be a part of a losing team? -- just like here in N.J. where only second and third-tier candidates are emerging (see: Myers, Chris; Lance, Leonard).
Besides being a newspaper reporter, Cahir was also apparently an Iraq War veteran, as stated on his website:
http://www.billcahir.com/
Patrick Murphy became the first Iraq War veteran to become a congressman when he won his Pa congressional seat in 2006; though Cahir is in a difficult district, perhaps he can also succeed (pre-Peterson retirement, Congressional Quarterly had it as "Safe Republican).
Though the prospect of winning red-to-blue N.J. congressional races (Adler, Stender) should be the main focus of state Democrats, the larger picture of possible victories and additions to the Democratic majority is a very positive one, indeed.
not happening
Cahir is a good Dem candidate for this district. Given the knockdown the PAGOP suffered in '06, they will have to work for open seats.
That being said, this is Republican territory. It wasn't close in '06. Comparing it to the suburban Philly districts is not appropriate. If you want a comparison, the surprise Dem pickup of the Sherwood seat in Northeastern PA is somwhat better support for your argument. But... Sherwood got caught up in his own sleaze and went down in the wave. These conditions don't exist in this open seat.
PA-05 stays safe Republican. Forget Dent in 15, that seat is more GOP than anyone cares to admit. As for Gerlach, he's a real survivor. He'll never be safe, but he is very battle tested from his last couple of races. McCain on top of the ticket won't hurt him in this relatively liberal district.