Parties field candidates for Sestak seat

With Congressman Joe Sestak running for Senate and out of the race for the 7th district seat, Democrats and Republicans are busy fielding candidates to take his place.

With Congressman Joe Sestak running for Senate and out of the race for the 7th district seat, Democrats and Republicans are busy fielding candidates to take his place. Both parties are expected to shower national money and national attention on the race in what should be one of the most hotly contested Congressional elections in the country.

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The traditionally Republican Delaware County is becoming more Democratic, with the election of Obama giving the trend a boost. The Republicans maintain control of County Council. But the districts’ independent voters elected Democrat Joe Sestak to Congress in 2006 on a wave of anti-Bush sentiment.

Now, both local and national Republicans have their eye on the seat. Andy Reilly is a Republican leader in Delaware County. He says who wins could depend on how voters feel about national politics.

Reilly: With the performance with this administration I think there’s real opportunity for this area to be Republican, we’ve seen it on a local end, where the residents have really set forth, they’re happy with Republican control of local government, its really Washington or the national party that they’ve rejected.

Potential Republican candidates include former federal prosecutor Craig Williams, who ran against Sestak in 2008, Phoenixville businessman Steven Welch, and State Representative Tom Killion. Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan is another possibility, but he says he’s eyeing a run for Governor.