Delaware County’s 7th District becomes national political battleground

The race for Delaware County’s 7th Congressional District is garnering national money and attention.

The race for Delaware County’s 7th Congressional District is garnering national money and attention.

The vacant seat is now considered a toss-up where both Democrat and Republican organizations will duke it out in the mid-term elections this fall. [audio:100310SPCONGRESS.mp3]

Republicans dominated Delaware County until Watergate ushered in a Democratic Congressman to represent the 7th district.

A Republican took back the district in 1986 and held on till Democrat Joe Sestak won the seat in 2007.

Now the open seat’s become a national battleground for control of Congress.

The race made it onto the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue list. That means the expected Democratic nominee Brian Lentz will get extra financial and strategic help. Lentz says to make the list, he had to prove himself worthy.

Lentz:
I take it as a grade. It’s a grade on our initial efforts to organize a grassroots effort and put together a credible campaign. So, I’m always happy to get good grades.

Lentz has so far raised about $600,000. Lentz’s Republican opponent Pat Meehan has about $790,000 in the bank. Meehan has also made the equivalent Republican list and expects added support from the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Meehan:
It’s been a process that allows us to get attention in other parts of the country and potentially financial support as well.

Political analysts expect millions of dollars to be spent on this race.