By Louis Jacobson
PoliticsPA
In a stirring victory for Democrats, Mark Critz held on to thelate Rep. John Murtha's seat,beating Republican Tim Burns, 54-44, in a contest where the GOPinitially seemed to have everything going its way.
As expected, Critzwon by 18 points in his – and Murtha's – home baseof CambriaCounty, which includes Johnstown. He waswell known there from years as a top aide to the legendary appropriator.
Butsomewhat more surprisingly, Critz also won severalcounties that were not part of Murtha's coreterritory. Critz edged Burns inGOP-heavy WestmorelandCounty, and he won several counties in the district's southern tierwhere Burns was presumed to have strength. Critz won by 20 pointsin Fayette County, by 16 in Greene County and by 4 in WashingtonCounty.
Burns only managed to win Somerset County and IndianaCounty, which together have very few votes.
"The GOP'sattempt to nationali...
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