Because of gerrymandering, only 2 U.S. House Districts in Pa expected to be competitive

[JPZenger]

This article published in the Phila. Inquirer is from a conservative news organization. However, it still seems to make valid points.

The Repubs on the PA. legislature were so successful in their gerrymandering of US House seats, that it appears only 2 U.S. House districts will be competitive next year. With the odds so fixed in advance, it is hard for the Dems to recruit a respectable candidate in some districts, which makes it even easier for Repubs to keep control. This is what is causing the "hardening of the arteries" in the US House - Repubs fear a primary challenge from the right, and they don't fear a Dem challenger. This is because the Repubs were allowed to "pick their own voters." Concentrations of minorities and other Dem communities were ghettoized into a very few districts.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Redistricting_to_blame_for_lack_of_interesting_congressional_races_in_Pa.html

[COLGATE4]

1. This is the greatest obstacle that we have to

try and overcome if we are ever going to regain control of the House. It was reliably reported a few weeks ago that out of all the House seats in play, only about 70 are actually in contention between the two parties. And in most of the others (Rethuglican), the only challenge the incumbent has is that the Tea Party finds some crazier to primary him/her.

[Bay Boy]

2. It doesn't sound like a conservative news organization...

...with terms likes 'ghettoized' and such.

[Herman4747]

3. To End the Pernicious Effect of Gerrymandering on Democrats...

We Democrats never must lose sight that voting for those in charge of creating congressional districts, i.e., the state legislators & the governor, is important