Sherwood Survives
Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA), his popularity weighed down by a messy extramartial affair, narrowly survived a primary challenge from a virtual unknown with a Democratic voting history.
With more than half of the vote counted, Sherwood led challenger Kathy Scott 56 percent to 44 percent.
The hair of a margin signals a a more competitive race for Sherwood in November, when he faces Democrat Chris Carney, a former Naval Reserve officer. [MARC AMBINDER]
Republicans worry that Sherwood's social conservative base will refuse to cast their ballots for him and that Carney will benefit from anti-incumbent sentiment in the state. He is a consultant to the DoD and has counterterrorism credentials. He is better versed in the intricacies of foreign policy than many other Dem vet candidates.
Republicans in Washington, recognizing Sherwood's peril, have gone to unusual lengths to assist him. Even President Bush helped, recording a telephone call that played for thousands of base voters in the district.
It won't be a cake walk for Carney.
Pres. Bush received 60 percent in the district and Sherwood will -- most likely -- easily outspend Carney in the general. The district spans hundreds of miles of rural eastern PA and, thanks to redistricting, no longer incorporates the city of Scranton. In its place: lots of rural Republican areas and small towns.
Scott's performance is all-the-more remarkable given how little she spent. Because she did not detail her spending in a report to the FEC, it's assumed she spent less than $5K through April.
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