With superdelegate vote hanging in the balance, Altmire gears up for rematch with Hart

After his surprise victory over three-term incumbent Republican Congresswoman Melissa Hart in 2006, few would have guessed that Jason Altmire’s status as a superdelegate would enter into his 2008 reelection contest. But as Altmire gears up for what looks to be a competitive rematch with Hart in November, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination is giving Altmire a bit of political heartburn.

Altmire remains uncommitted, and in recent weeks he has been courted extensively by both the Clinton and Obama camps – through surrogates and by the candidates themselves. The two sides have taken different approaches, he says. The Obama camp is gunning outright for the first term congressman’s support, but the Clinton camp, perhaps thinking Altmire’s endorsement is more of a long shot, has urged him to remain neutral in the race.

In an interview, Altmire said he didn’t feel any pressure over his decision, but withholding his decision until after Pennsylvania’s April 22 primary is a strong indication that he doesn’t want to pick a candidate only to discover that his Democratic constituents are going another way.

Altmire said he is “taking advantage of the opportunity to go hear what (Clinton and Obama) have to say,” and that his decision on whom to endorse will likely hinge on who wins the district and the state in the primary.

Altmire’s cautious wait-and-see attitude hasn’t kept Republicans from having a bit of fun with his situation.

“Jason Altmire is in the unenviable position of having to choose between the most liberal member of the United States Senate and Hillary Clinton,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain. “Neither candidate will carry his district in November, which explains why he is so afraid of taking a public position.”

“Altmire is going to have a tough race regardless of whether he comes out (in support of Clinton or Obama) early…and regardless of who the nominee is going to be,” said Nathan Gonzalez, an analyst for the Rothenberg Political Report.

Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District, covering Beaver and Lawrence Counties along the Ohio border, has a Democratic registration edge of about 50,000. But it has a constituency that is conservative-minded on issues like immigration and taxes. Hart, a former state Representative, had won the seat in three consecutive cycles before losing. It wasn’t until the late fall of 2006 that she realized that Altmire, a centrist Democrat and former legislative assistant for Florida Congressman Douglas Peterson, was running a strong challenge. In November, Hart lost by a 52%-48% margin, one of 30 Republican members of congress swept away by a wave of Democratic victories.

This time around, Hart is the challenger, and she is engaging Altmire early and often. In February, her campaign started airing advertisements against the incumbent attacking him on taxes.

“Jason Altmire has only been in Congress just 12 short months. But that’s all it’s taken to learn how big a tax-and-spender he really is,” said a voice-over in one ad.

The fundraising war is underway, too. Through 2007, Hart had raised $385,000 and had $332,000 on hand. Alicia Collins, Hart’s campaign manager, says the former congresswoman is spending a big chunk of her time fundraising.

She is going to have her work cut out for her: through the end of last year, Altmire had pulled in over $1 million and had $900,000 on hand.

Hart’s campaign says there is a crucial difference in its run against Altmire this cycle: he has a record. “There’s a lot of contrast on issues between Melissa and Jason,” Collins said. Immigration and taxes, she added, would earn particular attention. The Hart campaign’s strategy of pushing Altmire to the left also depends on showing that he hasn’t done enough to reel in the Democratic Party’s leadership.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver and 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann and attorney Ron Francis were weighing bids against Altmire, but backed out after Hart jumped into the race last summer. Hart is a different kind of challenger – in that has already won the seat she is running for and has an established network of support in the district. “People are excited Melissa is running again,” Collins said.

Altmire said he is prepared to go on the offensive against Hart this time. “I have an opponent who’s well known and was sent packing last time,” he said. Altmire’s strategy, for now, is to show voters that he mirrors the district, assuring voters that he has taken a hard line on immigration, and that it is Hart who is out-of-step.