Weekend To Remember

It's not often that the re-election bids of three potential retirees is overshadowed, but the mess that's developing up in PA-12 is certainly putting a damper on what was otherwise a good-news weekend for Dems.

-- Local PA-12 Dems may have favored ex-Murtha staffer Mark Critz (D) at their non-binding convo 3/6, but PA Dem Chair T.J. Rooney was quick to remind them that his cmte will have final say on the nominee when it votes tonight. But will the state cmte really overturn the preference of local Dems?

-- Possibly. At least one news outlet quotes a senior PA Dem who says it's "unlikely" that Critz will win the nomination, mainly because of the ethics concerns ex-Treas. Barbara Hafer (D) raised during the days leading up to the convo. But even if Critz does win the special nod, the 5/18 primary will be a blood bath, as Hafer promises to continue to hammer Critz's record.

-- Still, Dems got very positive news over the weekend, as Leonard Boswell (D-IA 03) and Ike Skelton (D-MO 04) both filed for re-election, and John Spratt (D-SC 05) made moves that appear to show he'll do the same. If those three do indeed seek re-election, it'll be a bit of a blow for GOPers, as many expected at least one of that group to announce his retirement in '10. Still, each of these contests has the potential to become competitive anyway, as at least one GOPer in each contest appears on the NRCC's "Young Guns" program.