National attention attends Philadelphia-area congressional race

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has selected the sixth district of Pennsylvania as a Red-to-Blue districts to provide extra financial and strategic support for the fall elections.

In anticipation of a strong showing by the G.O.P. in Congressional races this fall, Democrats are throwing their weight behind the candidates they believe can win in conservative districts. One of those districts is in the Philadelphia suburbs.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is selecting so-called Red-to-Blue districts to provide extra financial and strategic support for the fall midterm elections. In its second round of selection, the group picked the sixth district of Pennsylvania, where political newcomer Manan Trivedi will take on four-term incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach.

Democratic Congresswoman Allison Schwartz co-chairs the Red-to-Blue selection group.

“We actually look to provide the kind of strategic support, structural support, advice making sure that campaign is strong in and of itself,” says Schwartz, “and then introduce these candidates to some of the national donors, to some of the other members, and provide that kind of support. There isn’t a set amount of money per candidate.”

The sixth district leans Republican, but picked up Democratic registration in the last presidential election.  The neighboring seventh district, formerly held by current Senate candidate Joe Sestak, has also been designated Red-to-Blue.