Dem Votes Against Health Care Bill, Might Get Republican Challenge Anyway

GrassrootsPA is reporting that State Sen. David Argall, a Republican from Rep. Tim Holden’s (D-Pa.) base of Schuylkill County, might get into the race against him in 2010.

Holden, who survived a tough re-election challenge in 2002 when he was forced into a new district, has been a frustrating target for Republicans. Until 2008, he represented one of the more Republican districts represented by a Democrat, but northeast Pennsylvania was one of the regions that really swung to the Obama-Biden ticket. The Bush-Cheney margin of 16 points dwindled to a 3-point McCain-Palin margin, thanks in large part to a Democratic surge in Harrisburg. But it’s still considered a Republican-leaning district that has simply failed to produce good Republican candidates recently.

A possible political lesson here? Holden was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the House health care bill, and one of 44 Democrats who voted against cap-and-trade legislation. That hasn’t been enough to scare off opponents.