Election 2010: Republican Path To Power Goes Through Western Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2010— -- Let there be no doubt about what's on the ballot in today's special election to replace the late Rep. Jack Murtha. The Republicans are making quite clear in one of their latest TV ads that they want this to be a referendum on the "Obama-Pelosi" agenda.

The ad attacks the health care bill and the cap and trade energy/climate change bill that passed the House last June. But the Democrat running in the race, former Murtha aide Mark Critz, has said he is opposed to both those bills.

One of two things will happen in this race:

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"I think Mark Critz is going to win and in great part because Mark Critz turned out to be a very good candidate. You know, candidates matter," said Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pennsylvania., on ABC News'/Washington Post's "Top Line."

"Our polls have him up by significant percentage points. I think he's going to prevail because he turned out to be a very fine candidate and Mark deserves all the credit himself. Candidates matter, there's no question about that," he said.

It is true that Democratic registration is twice the size of Republican registration in the district and that Democrats may be a bit more driven to head to the polls because of the competitive Senate primary on their side between Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak. Those advantages may be the Democrats' saving grace.

Republicans are eager to point out why the primary-day electorate expected to show up at the polls in today's special election creates a tougher environment for them than will be the case in November.

"In a general election, this is the kind of seat that we have to win," Republican National Committee political director Gentry Collins told a group of reporters last week. "I think that the special election dynamics are different. The Democrats do not have a 2.55 to one turnout advantage in a district like this on general election day. That is a primary election phenomenon."

"My view is that there are turnout drivers for the Democrats in that special election that enhance the generic advantage they've had and they won't have that kind of advantage in the fall. I'm not suggesting that we can't win in the special election. But I think it is a lot harder in the special election than it is in the fall. You're right in the fall. It is exactly the kind of seat that we have to win. But I do think there are turnout dynamics in the special election that do not favor us," Collins said.