Slash And Burns

Now that PA-12 GOPers have picked businessman Tim Burns (R) to be their nominee, the 5/18 special election field is now set. But will '08 nominee Bill Russell (R), who promises to run in the 5/18 primary, be a drag on the GOP's chances?

-- To make sure he doesn't hurt the GOPers' chances, Russell promises not to attack Burns personally. Instead, he says, he'll attack the selection process and the GOP leadership that passed him over. That ploy worked well for Doug Hoffman (C) in NY-23, but he also had a GOP challenger with plenty of liberal credentials to attack. Russell won't be so lucky with the Tea Party-aligned Burns.

-- Burns' profile will also hurt Russell's chances to run against GOP insiders. Hoffman had an "Albany insider" to attack; Russell will have a businessman. In fact, Russell's biggest attack on Burns is that he doesn't have DC experience. In this climate, is that really a bad thing?

-- Russell has the cash and name ID to both hurt Burns in the special against ex-Murtha staffer Mark Critz (D), and to give him a tough primary. But does he have a compelling enough message to make a difference?