Two Iraq war veterans campaigning for congress
Patrick Murphy, D-Pa. and David Ashe, D-Va., are striving to complete the mission that U.S. Marine reservist and Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett (D) could not in early August, by becoming the first Iraq veterans elected to the U.S. Congress.
Murphy became a candidate for Pennsylvania’s 8th District seat in May. He was a pilot in the 82nd airborne division in Iraq and earned a bronze star. He raised a little more than $90,000 in five weeks according to the July 2005 Federal Election Commission (FEC) report; his cash on hand totals almost $79,000. It is a record for a first-time Democratic Congressional candidate in Bucks County. The Philadelphia suburbs- 8th District has been in Republican hands for the past 12 years with freshman U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R) currently holding the seat.
Fitzpatrick raised about $335,000 and has nearly $900,000 in cash on hand at the close of the July quarter.
Ashe served in Iraq as the sole coalition legal representative responsible for restoring the judicial system and is a Marine reservist. He is a repeat contender in Virginia’s 2nd District, seeking a rematch against freshman U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake (R). The district, home to many military bases, active-duty military personnel and veterans, encompasses the Eastern Shore, Virginia Beach and Norfolk. He declared his candidacy in July and has $30,000 in the bank without much active fundraising, he said.
Like Hackett, both candidates are bringing attention to veterans’ issues, including lack of battlefield equipment and health and disability benefits when they come home from duty.
“They are not receiving the benefits they are entitled to. They’re being treated unfairly,” Murphy said. “I’m doing this for the men and women over there in Iraq. I want to support them when they are over there and when they come home.”
Murphy and Ashe are receiving sizable contributions from veterans and active duty personnel, they said. They have had positive discussions with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) this year but not official backing. Both candidates also credit Hackett for benefiting their candidacies.
“I’m the Paul Hackett of Bucks County and Northeast Philadelphia,” Murphy said. “People are hungry for candidates who tell them the truth and are one of their own.” Hackett was known for speaking his mind during the campaign, even lashing out at the president.
For his part, Ashe plans to weave his personal combat story into people’s concerns as he talks to voters.
“What’s on people’s minds? National security, Iraq, terrorism and when I’m talking about those issues I’m not just going to say I saw on 20/20 or read about it on a Web site,” he said. “I’m going to say let me tell you about when I was on active duty when I was wearing 25 pounds of body armor and walking through the desert.”
In his shoe-leather-knocking-on-doors style of campaigning, Ashe concentrates on appealing to veterans.
“I probably put disproportionate focus on the veterans but it’s very natural and very important for me to reach out to them,” he said.
Murphy also has surrounded himself with veterans on his campaign. Ret. Lt. Gen. Robert Kelley is a senior advisor and his brother Capt. J.J. Murphy is special advisor. He has hired a veteran’s affairs coordinator, Ed Jasiewicz, a former Marine Corps pilot, he said.
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By Ari Pinkus www.campaignline.com
August 23, 2005