Premiere American public affairs, research and polling organization Global Strategy Group (GSG) released recent polling that show incumbent Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democratic challenger Bob Harvie are in a “statistical tie” at 46% heading into next month’s midterm voters.
The pair are facing off to represent Pennsylvania’s first congressional district in Washington D.C. in next month’s midterm elections.
Sky-high grocery and gas prices; prohibitive health care costs, accessibility and a lack of government accountability coupled with growing awareness of Fitzpatrick’s voting record seem to be shifting the tide to Harvie’s favor.
Harvie’s campaign expects to win undecided voters with his public service record as a former Falls Township supervisor, teacher and Bucks County commissioner.
“Democrats smell blood in the water,” a Politico report published Oct. 11 said of the chance to unseat Fitzpatrick, a five-time incumbent.
The poll which indicates the gap is now tied, less than three weeks before Election Day, has given Harvie’s campaign a boost.
“It’s a culmination of a few factors: Brian’s bad votes, rising costs in groceries, gas and health care and a growing distrust in our government coupled with a need for political reform,” said Dan McCormick, Harvie’s campaign manager. “It’s all the things together; and we need change.”
The GSG poll, which is the same group used by Gov. Josh Shapiro, was first reported by Politico.
“When I say I’m running for this seat, I think that offends Brian Fitzpatrick. It offends the Republicans because they think of it as his seat. They think it’s their seat. It is not their seat. This seat doesn’t belong to Brian Fitzpatrick. This seat doesn’t belong to the Republican Party. This seat doesn’t belong to me. This seat belongs to you,” said Bob Harvie at a campaign rally Saturday at Charles Boehm Middle School in Pennsbury School District.
In the “purplest” of purple counties in the purplest state in the nation, the GSG polling memo said:
This swing district is evenly divided by partisanship, but most want to see Democrats take control of the U.S. House – the preference for a Democratic majority is even greater among swing voters who will decide the election for Congress.
According to a Harvie campaign press release, “undecided voters (about 60%) prefer Democratic control, meaning that late deciding voters are poised to break Harvie’s way.”
A wave of national reporting has attracted increased attention to the race, including recent bombshell report Fitzpatrick had used a felon’s self-published articles in a smear campaign against Harvie, who is suing Defending America PAC, a Fitzpatrick campaign donor, for defamation.
“This race is breaking in Bob Harvie’s direction at the perfect time and the momentum to beat Brian Fitzpatrick is only growing stronger by the day,” said DCCC Spokesperson Eli Cousin. “Bucks and Montgomery County voters are seeing that a decade in Washington has changed Fitzpatrick, and it’s time to send someone different who will fight the corruption that is costing Pennsylvanians.”
