Hackett denies new ‘pro-choice’ remark claim

The heated Republican contest in the 10th Congressional District showed no signs of cooling off on Monday.

Another Republican said he heard candidate Chris Hackett tell a small group in May that he was “pro-choice,” as Hackett continued to deny the statement, lashing out at his opponent’s supporters and The Times Leader.

Hackett and Dan Meuser are embroiled in a race in the heavily GOP district which runs through 14 counties, including parts of the West Side and Back Mountain. The winner faces freshman Democratic incumbent Chris Carney in November.

At issue is a meeting between Hackett and local Republican power brokers – including Jack Sordoni and Charles “Rusty” Flack and Hal Flack – held in Sordoni’s office 11 months ago. When Hackett was asked about his position on abortion, some of those in the meeting said Hackett said he was “pro-choice.”

Hackett denies the statement and said he opposes abortion. Hackett said those who are making the claim against him are Meuser supporters and have donated roughly a combined $8,000 to his opponent’s campaign. Meuser campaign spokesman Eric Wallace said the amount “sounds right.”

“The timing is very unusual,” Hackett said. “It seems as though the Meuser campaign is using the press as a willing accomplice in this smear campaign.”

Hackett said Meuser has been continuously asked to outline differences between the two – but never took the opportunity to question Hackett’s abortion stance.

Brian Grove, chief of staff for state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, told a WILK radio audience Monday that he was “personally offended” when he heard Hackett deny the statement.

“I was in the meeting via telephone and I heard him say he was pro-choice,” Grove said.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum did not attend the meeting in question but told WILK some local prominent Republicans had said that Hackett said he was “pro-choice.” Santorum decided to support Meuser.

Sue Cirba, editor of the Scranton-based Pro-Life Reporter called the Sue Henry talk show on WILK Friday and said she has no doubt about Hackett’s “pro-life” commitment.

Hackett said the Meuser camp is using the controversy to make last-minute calls to try to sway voters.

Alice Schultz of Danville said she received two calls in the last week – including a recorded message – urging her to vote for Meuser if the abortion issue was important to her.

“The caller on Monday asked me if I was pro-life and if I was I needed to vote for Dan Meuser,” Schultz said. “They said Chris was not pro-life. I said that wasn’t true and they told me to make some calls. I said I already did and that Chris is pro-life. She hung up on me.”

Wallace would not confirm or deny the Meuser campaign was making the calls. “We have been identifying pro-Meuser voters throughout the campaign.”

Hackett called the 11th-hour maneuver a “sign of desperation.” His internal polls, he said, have consistently shown he holds a solid lead.

Sordoni said he and other Meuser supporters never intended to make public the details of the conversation with Hackett. They responded to inquiries by a reporter from Capitolwire, an online news service, Sordoni said.