Republican Malcolm Derk was astonished Wednesday to learn members of his political party have been courting the incumbent “Blue Dog” Democrat he may run against in the 10th Congressional District race.
National GOP leaders, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, approached U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, of Dimock, Wednesday about becoming a Republican. Carney’s constituency is overwhelmingly Republican.
“There’s no way he can fool the voters in the district, not when he votes with (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi and her agenda 90 percent of the time,” Derk said Thursday from his in-laws’ home in Greenville, N.Y.
Derk said he “absolutely” would continue his campaign even if Carney does switch parties.
“No matter what he does, I will be running,” he said emphatically. “I was getting calls and e-mails all night. Republicans in the district are furious.
“I am disappointed if (U.S. Sen. John) McCain did choose to reach out in this way,” he said. “It’s obvious to me Carney is far from a Republican.”
Derk, a first-term Snyder County commissioner, said Carney voted with the Democrats for the $800 billion stimulus program, the $1 trillion health care overhaul and the $154 billion second stimulus bill.
He also said Carney was partly responsible for the $12 trillion national debt.
“It just doesn’t match what Republicans in the district believe,” Derk said.
“We don’t need another Specter,” he said of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter’s move from the Republican to Democratic Party. “We don’t need another politician switching parties for personal gain.”
Derk is the only declared GOP candidate in the 10th Congressional District. Former U.S. attorney Tom Marino is reportedly also considering a run.
The state Republican Party doesn’t support the national move, Derk said. He received assurances from party officials in Harrisburg on Wednesday night that he is still their man.
The Pennsylvania Republican Party had no part in courting Carney, according to spokesman Mike Barley. Party officials in Harrisburg found out about the effort when Politico published a story about Carney’s possible party switch Wednesday afternoon, he said.
“We were a little surprised,” Barley told PoliticsPA. “This was the national party reaching out from Washington, not from Pennsylvania. We’re looking actively to beat Chris Carney. We’re looking for real Republicans.
“We have no illusions that he’s a Republican.”
The story originally broke on a political Web site, Politico, on Wednesday.
Derk said he believes Carney fears facing him in the general election. Derk announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination on Dec. 21.
n E-mail comments to wlaepple@dailyitem.com
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