Tony Barr’s campaign that began as a write in is now catching fire in the PA-09th. Endorsements including the PA AFL-CIO keep rolling in and popular support keeps growing. Last night Tony stopped by the Huntingdon County fair to talk with voters and listen to the needs and concerns of this mostly rural Pennsylvania County.
It’s a fair, rides and horse shows, tractor pulls and cotton candy and the Americana than you shake a corn dog at. Instead of merely hanging out at the Democratic table with all the literature on display, waiting for the voters to come to him, Tony Barr takes a walk and goes to the voters.
Right outside the exhibits building is where we stood, Tony giving a very quick, personal talk about who he is and why he’s running. He’s friendly and genuine and people respond to him. They respond especially well, if it clicks who Tony’s opponent is, Republican Bill Shuster. Voters in Huntingdon resent how Shuster got his seat, and they don’t like what he’s done with it and they especially don’t like how little he’s done for Huntingdon County. So when Tony Says “Hi, My Name is Tony Barr I’m running for Congress….” people smile and try to walk past until Tony adds,”…against Bill Shuster”, then Tony has their undivided attention. It happens almost everywhere we go.
This happened kind of thing happened a lot but I got to confess my favorite occurrence of the phenomenon happened about 20 minutes into our visit. These two gentleman, at least in their 60’s, exited the exhibits building festooned with campaign stickers for Republican candidates, the glaring absence of a Shuster sticker became too much for my smart-aleck nature and my curiosity to bear.
“Hi, Guys, What no Shuster sticker?” I asked
The man leaned over to me and quietly mumbled “Personal preference”. At which point I offered them a Tony Barr flyer, confidentially replying, “This is the man running against him”. They both took the flyer and shook mine and Tony’s hand.
About an hour later, an EMT who was on duty at the fair struck up a conversation with Tony about Emergency services. Most Fire Companies are All-Volunteer affairs here in this part of PA and funding is scarce and a sore subject. Tony listened and we were both shocked at the way such funds were dispersed and managed in our state. While such issues are technically the territory of State legislators, Washington does have some influence in such matters, and you can bet that with Tony Barr in Congress, these problems will not go unattended. The EMT believed that and hopefully the people of Pennsylvania will believe it too.
While Tony was chatting up a couple of union guys, I had the chance to speak with a young Marine on leave who was taking his girlfriend to the fair. He asked about Tony’s position on the war and He and I discussed National Security. He was shocked and more than a little pissed off to learn that Bill Shuster voted against expanding Military Healthcare coverage to Guardsmen and Reservists. As a Marine he expressed his belief in what we are doing in a Iraq, but ya gotta remember it’s part of his job to believe in his mission, no matter how FUBAR that mission is. Of course, he thinks we need troops in Iraq. We talked for several minutes, he conceded a few points as I did, but it was a serious substantive, quiet, conversation. We might not get his vote in November, but his girlfriend, who just wants him home…She’ll vote for Tony!
The afternoon and early evening went fast. For the most part, we heard the voters desire for a change in their government. The echoes of Ned Lamont’s victory were heard even here. Tonight, Tony’s half way across the state, in Indiana County, doing the same thing. Listening to the voters, shaking hands, talking about his vision for PA and America and winning this election.
To learn more http://www.tonybarr2006.com
