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Carney’s supporters say David Urban’s support shows the bi-partisan centrist nature of Carney. Urban, a partner at the lobbying firm American Continental, is hosting the fundraising breakfast with two of his colleagues. Urban, a registered Republican who grew up outside Pittsburgh and attended law school at Temple University, has a long history of donating to Republicans. Urban said his support of Carney does not reflect the views of his former boss Specter, but his own perspective.
“Over his term I’ve gotten to know Carney … he’s a pretty admirable guy and I think he’s doing great things for Pennsylvania,” he said.
Urban has supported other Democrats besides Carney, such as the $2,000 he gave in 2007 and 2008 to Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., whose district is just outside Pittsburgh.
“Chris Hackett will be a voice for real change in a broken Washington,” Hackett spokesman Mark Harris said. “It’s not surprising that Carney would be supported by a Washington lobbyist.”
The fundraiser supporting Hackett is sponsored by ROMP, a Republican group that stands for Regain Our Majority Program, which Blunt chairs. Hackett is one of three challengers in the group of eight who will benefit from the fundraiser.
To regain control of the House, Republicans would need to oust at least 19 Democrats. According to the most recent Federal Election Commission reports, Carney has a significant advantage in fundraising. Those reports, filed April 2, showed Carney with $966,458 in campaign cash and Hackett with $175,804. The next FEC reports are filed July 15 and will contributions from the last reporting period to July 1.
Hackett’s spokesman denied that Urban’s support in anyway showed a weak Republican base for Hackett in the conservative 10th District. He also said that Hackett was not intimidated by Carney’s apparent fundraising advantage. Hackett, a millionaire businessman in Luzerne County, loaned his campaign more than $790,000 in the April primary.
“Funding is not going to be an issue in this race,” Harris said. He pointed out that Hackett was outspent nearly 2-to-1 in his primary victory of Dan Meuser. “We’re going to win this race on the issues.”
Hackett has strongly campaigned against earmark spending. Earmarks attached funding to specific projects on spending bills. Urban said his decision had nothing to do with Hackett’s stance.
“I totally dismiss the fact that the reason I’m supporting Congressman Chris Carney is because his opponent against earmarks,” Urban said. “That’s very simplistic.”
One of Urban’s clients is the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, which was interested in adding tolls to Interstate 80. Carney has said he opposes the idea, and is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives. Urban said his support of Carney had nothing to do with his own professional interests.
“Obviously, we aren’t going to agree on every issue,” Urban said. “I think on balance he does a good job for the people of the 10th.”
cjones@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2110
