Mano a mano in 12th

Politico has named the 12th District dustup between Democrats Jason Altmire and Mark Critz one of the five "ugliest" in the nation:

If the last several days are any indication, the battle between Critz and Altmire, who have been pitted in the same southwestern Pennsylvania district, will be a rough one.

Late last week, Critz launched a bid to boot Altmire from the ballot, arguing that the Democrat failed to collect the 1,000 valid signatures he needed in order to qualify for the primary. Altmire fired back, calling the challenge “a desperate attack from a desperate campaign.”

Critz has also slammed Altmire for his conservative voting record, reminding voters that he opposed President Barack Obama’s health-care bill. He has even begun jabbing Altmire for appearing on Fox News and calling him “Sean Hannity’s hero.”

“While I don’t always vote with the Democratic leadership, I am a proud Democrat and I am not afraid to say it,” Critz wrote in one recent fundraising email. “Jason Altmire voted with the Republican leadership 53% of the time in 2011 and never misses an opportunity to go on Fox News to bash the Democratic Party. I have never been on Fox News and I never will.”