Father of Marine killed in Iraq to run against Iraq vet Patrick Murphy(D-Pa.)

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0108/Father_of_slain_Iraq_war_veteran_to_run_against_Patrick_Murphy.html

Father of Marine killed in Iraq to run against Patrick Murphy

Freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), the only Iraq war veteran in Congress, is facing the prospect of a re-election fight against a colonel in the Marine reserves whose son was killed in Iraq last year.

Republican Tom Manion, 53, will be kicking off his campaign against Murphy Tuesday, according to a source familiar with his intentions. His son, Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion, was killed by a sniper last April during his second tour in Iraq.

Manion appears to be an early frontrunner for the Republican nomination and has secured key support from former GOP Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, who was ousted by Murphy in 2006.

If Manion emerges as the Republican nominee, it appears increasingly likely that the campaign would be defined by the war in Iraq. Murphy highlighted his military service and opposition to the war in his successful campaign against Fitzpatrick.

Manion, on the other hand, has been an outspoken supporter of the war.

Fitzpatrick has helped prepare Manion for the campaign, introducing him to officials at the National Republican Congressional Committee. And Manion’s campaign announcement seems to all but ensure that Fitzpatrick will not be running again to recapture his old seat.

Murphy is one of the best-financed Democratic freshmen, banking over $1.05 million at the end of the third fundraising quarter.

His suburban Philadelphia district leans Democratic, giving President Bush only 48 percent of the vote in 2004.

the campaign will be decided on which candidate agrees with america.

Shock and awe my ass, greeted with roses, yeah right. They had no strategy going in, other than some getting rich as hell off the effort.

i kinda resent that remark

I was in the army when 9/11 happened. afterwords i was talking with my dad when talk of iraq first started. My dad knew the score but I just didn't see it. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 why would we attack them? alot of people felt the way i did. When the administration wants something done they make it up, if their is not a huge and immidiate outcry they convince congress that its imperitive to go further. I was on a boat before I knew what was going on.

you are right. i feel we had no strategy to win the population. I was not for this war though and opposed it from the begginnig to the best of my ability.