All Politics is Local . . . Except When It Isn't: The Campaign for the 3rd Congressional District in Pennsylvania

Abstract

In an era when the vast majority of officeholders who seek reelection win (and typically do so by large margins), the rare defeat of an incumbent is a critically important phenomena. In the Third Congressional District of Pennsylvania, a political neophyte-Kathy Dahlrymple (D)-knocked off Phil English (R), a smart, aggressive, 14-year incumbent. Part of the story is the national tide of change, sparked by the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. As a result, the Republican incumbent had no choice but to play defense. But another piece of the tale is the experience of the challenger, which provided her with a non-traditional, but crucially important source of support. Still another layer is the strategies and tactics of both candidates. No two campaigns are ever the same, and the story of the 2008 contest in Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District was certainly unique.