Early skirmishing in PA12

Hey, it's the PA12 race -- we've missed you.

The campaign for incumbent Democrat Mark Critz is blasting GOP opponent Keith Rothfus for speaking at a Monroeville stop by the Tea Party Express tonight, dinging the group for its support of House Budget committee chairman Paul Ryan's budget:

Millionaire Keith Rothfus today will be speaking at a rally hosted by the California based Tea Party Express, a group that strongly supports the House Republican's "Ryan Budget" that ends Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher program, while cutting taxes for the richest Americans. Rothfus is already on record supporting the devastating budget and his appearance confirms that he will fight to balance the budget on the backs of seniors.

"By rallying with the Tea Party Express, Keith Rothfus confirms that he supports ending Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher program, costing seniors an additional $6,000 a year in out of pocket-expenses while at the same time cutting taxes for millionaires like himself," Critz campaign spokesman Mike Mikus said. "While Mark Critz is fighting to cut wasteful government spending and reduce our debt so that we can create jobs for the middle class, Keith Rothfus makes it perfectly clear that he supports a budget that would cost seniors more for their health care while killing jobs in the process."

It's been long known that Critz would try to use fears over entitlement cuts against Rothfus (as he did in the Dem primary against Jason Altmire) -- just as it was clear Rothfus would try to tie Critz to Obama and health care reform. Here's the response from the Republican's spokesman Jonathan Raso:

"Unfortunately, Congressman Critz is once again deceiving the voters of PA-12. Here are the facts: Congressman Critz sided with President Obama and voted to keep in place the President's takeover of our healthcare system. Obamacare is what ends Medicare as we know it; it guts the program of $500 Billion in funding at the same time the Medicare population is set to increase by 42%. Keith Rothfus is dedicated to protecting and strengthening Medicare for this and future generations. We must repeal Obamacare to protect Medicare, not protect President Obama as Congressman Critz is doing."

PS, calling the Edgeworth attorney "Millionaire Keith Rothfus" is an Critz/DCCC oldie-but-a-goodie from his 2010 battles with Republican foe Tim Burns, aka "Mr. Burns."

UPDATE: The AFL-CIO's campaign spokesman for Pennsylvania, Yuri Beckelman, is also piling on:

"Now that the general election is in full swing most candidates would turn their message towards picking up moderate votes.

But not CD12 Congressional candidate, Tea Party Keith, who will be headlining a rally tonight hosted by the California group Tea Party Express.

I wonder how many swing votes he’ll pick up speaking to that crowd."