JOHNSTOWN - U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, a master of congressional earmarks and a leading face of the antiwar Democrats, appeared headed to a win tonight, ending a two-week scare touched off by his remark that western Pennsylvania "is a racist area."
The remarks brought an apology, later botched by remarks that his district years ago "was really redneck," then a barrage of attack ads by the Republican National Congressional Committee.
Residents of this onetime steel center turned out in astonishing numbers to give Mr. Murtha an equally astonishing margin of nearly 70 percent. The Murtha camp spread out across his home turf hoping to offset an anticipated backlash in the western counties of the 12th District.
Mr. Murtha, 76, has represented the 12th District since 1974 and has never won reelection with less than
58 percent, so the numbers tonight represented to message to the incumbent from some constituents: watch what you say.
He was leading by a huge margin in Cambria County, his home turf, as well as in Indiana and surrounding counties. His margins were smaller in Greene County, in the state's southwestern corner.
http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/earlyreturns/
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