PA Congressman Labeled as One of Five Most Vulnerable

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.)

Primary: April 24

Conservative groups are rallying around Evan Feinberg, a former congressional aide who’s looking to unseat Murphy, a Pittsburgh-area congressman who has displayed a penchant for working with Democrats.

The anti-tax Club for Growth has dropped into the district, slamming Murphy in TV ads as a labor-aligned liberal who supports earmarks, and the tea party-aligned FreedomWorks has endorsed Feinberg. GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma have suggested they may support Feinberg, who formerly served as an aide to both senators, as well.

For Feinberg, the big question is whether his early conservative backing will translate into fundraising dollars. So far, it hasn’t. During the fourth quarter, Feinberg, who launched his campaign last fall, raised just $50,000. He’ll need to do better if he wants to catch up with Murphy, who raised more than five times that amount during the quarter and has nearly $1 million on hand.

Murphy, who has a spot on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, has also received backup from the American Chemistry Council, which in December, took the unusual step of purchasing a $500,000 TV ad buy praising the congressman.