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December 17, 2009

Barletta pegged as rising GOP star

The Republican “Young Guns” program seeks to identify key hopefuls nationally.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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HAZLETON – Lou Barletta has been designated as an “on the radar” candidate by the National Republican Congressional Committee, it was announced Wednesday.

The NRCC said the designation is an important step in its “Young Guns” program. Founded in the 2007-08 election cycle by U.S. Reps. Eric Cantor, R-Va., Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide.

“I’m pleased to be recognized by the Young Guns,” Barletta said. “Their support will be beneficial to me as the campaign progresses.”

The Young Guns are a team of U.S. House Republican members committed to earning a Republican majority in Congress by supporting hand-selected candidates “who embody the values and principles to fix a broken Washington.”

According to Tory Mazzola, spokesman for the NRCC, the Young Guns “fight for solutions, accountability and policies that strengthen America.”

Barletta is running for the Republican nomination in the 11th Congressional District. He is opposed by Monroe County attorney Chris Paige. The seat is held by 13-term Democratic incumbent Paul Kanjorski of Nanticoke.

Ed Mitchell, spokesman for Kanjorski, noted Barletta received the Young Guns designation in 2008 when he lost to Kanjorski by nearly 10,000 votes. Barletta also ran and lost to Kanjorski in 2002 by 22,000 votes.

“This isn’t about Young Guns, it’s about old news,” Mitchell said, adding, “The designation by the committee seems premature because Chris Paige might beat Barletta in the primary.”

NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions said, “Lou Barletta is an accomplished leader for Northeastern Pennsylvania and he already has significant momentum behind his campaign.”

Mazzola said Barletta is well-known as a hard-line conservative on immigration issues and introduced the Illegal Immigration Relief Act to control a growing illegal immigrant population.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

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