"People are mad"

Some 250 people showed up for a Tim Burns rally in Johnstown last night, writes the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat:

Helping to draw an enthusiastic crowd Tuesday was U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, who views the 12th district race as a bellwether for the nation, similar to the election of Republican Scott Brown to the late Rep. Ted Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts.

“The people are mad. They don’t like the direction the country is taking, the direction the president and (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi is taking the country,” Shuster said.

The five-term congressman warned the crowd that Burns has an uphill battle against Critz because of a 62 percent Democrat edge in voter registration in the 12th district. But it is a race that a Republican can win, he said.

“The wind is at our back and the issues are on our side, and it’s going to build till May 18,” Shuster said. “It’s going to take a lot of work, but the Pa. 12th is going to send a message to the White House and Congress.”

Photo: Tim Burns listens to state GOP chair Rob Gleason. Tribune-Democrat.