Bill Russell

A new ad from Congressional candidate Bill Russell's campaign drives right at one of his candidacy's main themes: Democrat John Murtha's accusations, since proven false, that U.S. marines killed Iraqi civilians in cold blood.

The ad shows clips of Murtha telling multiple reporters that "there is question in my mind what happened here," referring to the deaths of Iraqi civilians in Haditha. 

"They killed innocent civilians in cold blood," he said in one clip.

The ad ends with a message saying seven of the eight marines accused have been acquitted.

UNIONTOWN -- Republican congressional candidate Bill Russell's campaign is reporting it raised $400,000 in July alone as it continues its unexpected fundraising success in the 12th Congressional District.

The campaign has now raised $1.3 million in total, in large part from small, individual contributions, according to Campaign Manager Peg Luksik. She said three-fourths of Russell's money comes from donations totalling less than $50.

The totals have stunned even Russell.

"The big thing has been watching the explosion of money coming into the campaign," he said.

UNIONTOWN -- Bill Russell knows how to make an entrance.

Now can he do the seemingly impossible?

Just past midnight Friday, the Republican congressional candidate literally roared into his first campaign event in three months, driving his motorcycle into the center of Uniontown with the help of the military veterans biker group "Rolling Thunder."

After shaking hands with many of the 40 supporters gathered to greet him, Russell wasted little time taking aim at his opponent, U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown). In a prepared 15-minute speech, the candidate said Murtha's 30-year tenure in Washington had warped his values and put him "out of touch" with the 12th Congressional District.

Bill Russell's campaign has spent the summer buying media, packing the schedule with county fairs and raising money -- everything expected of a congressional candidate laying a foundation for fall.

Now it just needs Bill Russell.

The Republican challenger to political giant U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) has been absent from his own campaign the past 90 days while serving in the U.S. Army. On-duty members of the armed services are forbidden from any politicking, including even brief phone calls between themselves and their campaigns.

It's his campaign, but for the past three months, he's had nothing to do with it -- even as important decisions were made.