[img_assist|nid=931|title=U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel|desc=Getty Images Photo|link=none|align=none|width=420|height=267]Eight Pennsylvania Democrats running for Congress are being criticized by the National Republican Congressional Committee for accepting donations from U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who is embroiled in scandal after being accused of using his high-profile status to secure rent-stabilized apartments.

The NRCC sent two sets of e-mails, one Saturday to incumbents and another Wednesday to challengers, saying Democrats should return donations from the politically powerful Rangel.

The e-mail criticizing candidate Kathy Dahlkemper quoted NRCC spokeswoman Julie Shutley saying: "Kathy Dahlkemper is not a voice for change, she is a status-quo politician willing to get elected to Congress any way she can. If Dahlkemper wants to separate herself from a corrupt politician and an unpopular Democrat majority in Congress, she will return the campaign checks she took from Rep. Charlie Rangel."

The eight congressional candidates include sitting U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire, Chris Carney, Paul Kanjorski, Patrick Murphy, Allyson Schwartz, Joe Sestak and challengers Dahlkemper and Bob Roggio.

Dahlkemper is taking on U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Erie) in the 3rd Congressional District, and Roggio is trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-West Pikeland) in the 6th Congressional District.