Meuser fuels 'pro-choice' rumors about Hackett

The 10th Congressional district campaign of Republican Dan Meuser is circulating a Capitolwire article today reporting that fellow GOP candidate Chris Hackett told party power brokers last May that he supported abortion rights.

According to the article, the meeting with Northeastern Pennsylvania GOP leaders was arranged to discuss Hackett's potential bid to challenge incumbent Rep. Chris Carney (D-Susquehanna).

The report says that four attendees of the meeting - oil and gas company executive Jack Sordoni, manufacturing company owners Rusty and Hal Flack and Tom Medico of Medico Industries – were unanimous in recounting that Hackett's pro-choice stance at the time prompted a "strong negative reaction" from participants in the meeting.

Hackett spokesman Mark Harris tells the paper that the meeting "definitely" took place, but that Hackett does not remember the conversation. Harris emphasized that Hackett is "pro-life, as he has always been."

Harris also disputes the credibility of the attendee's statements. "They're Dan Meuser supporters, it's four days before the election, and it's absolutely not true. Chris is pro-life," Harris said.

Meuser campaign manager Eric Wallace told PolitickerPA.com Friday morning: "The esteemed gentleman who attended the meeting have the highest level of credibility in the community. Anyone who knows them or does business with them knows they are men of their word."

As the primary fight heads into its final 96 hours, it will be worth watching whether news organizations discover further information linking Hackett to pro-abortion rights groups.