English camp: Poll attempts to mask Dahlkemper's 'dismal' fundraising figures

U.S. Rep. Phil EnglishThe campaign for U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Erie) said Democratic opponent Kathy Dahlkemper tried hiding disappointing fundraising figures Tuesday by releasing a favorable internal poll on the same day.

It's case of political misdirection, the English campaign said, that won't work.

Dahlkemper reported she raised $161,911 in the second quarter, leaving her with $127,866 on hand. Those numbers are far below the incumbent English, who raised $417,242 and has $786,983 on hand.

But Dahlkemper told PolitickerPA.com her second-quarter effort builds on momentum she's gained since emerging as the Democratic nominee in the 3rd Congressional District.

"We're ahead of where Jason (Altmire) was at this point in his campaign," she said. "There's a lot of interest nationally in this race."

She pointed to an internal poll that showed her with a 1-point lead over English, 41 percent to 40 percent, a report that she said impressed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee when she visited them in Washigton, D.C., Tuesday. The poll says district dissatisfaction with Republicans in general and English in particular have made the already left-leaning area ripe for Democratic takeover.

Dahlkemper added that she still thinks she has a "good chance" to be placed on the DCCC's red-to-blue program -- she was placed on the program's watch list earlier this year. Earning a place in the program would give her extra fundraising help from the national committee.

English's campaign, however, takes issue with the poll itself and the time it was released.

"She releases the findings right before she comes out with these dismal numbers," said Adam Beebe, English's campaign manager. "It's a campaign tactic."

Beebe also said that although he hasn't seen the questions used for the poll, English's office has received several calls from constituents complaining some of the queries were "outright attacks against Phil."