Pennsylvania: Hd-162

Almost immediately after talking office as state Representative for Delaware County's 162nd Legislative District next month, Republican Nick Miccarelli will head to Iraq with his Pennsylvania National Guard unit, effectively leaving the district without representation in Harrisburg for much of his first two-year term.

Delaware County Democratic leader Cliff Wilson says that's unfair to voters. Though Democrats take pains to make clear that they admire and are grateful for Miccarelli's military service, some, including Wilson, think Miccarelli should step aside.

GLENOLDEN--Even though the Philadelphis suburbs have become increasingly Democratic in recent years, Delaware County remains a conservative-leaning area. It is in this electoral climate that Democrat John DeFrancisco hopes to win a state House seat.

PolitickerPA.com caught up with DeFrancisco today, and asked him how we would overcome that demographic hurdle in his bid to represent the 162nd Legislative District.

See his answer below.

DeFrancisco is running against Republican Nick Miccarelli.

RIDLEY PARK-John DeFrancisco and Nick Miccarelli both said they had been to about two-dozen precincts each. And it was barely 1 p.m.

DeFrancisco, a Democrat, and Miccarelli, a Republican, are vying to replace retiring state Rep. Ron Raymond (R-Delaware) in the 162nd Legislative District. It's a compact area, which includes Ridley Park, Glenolden, Norwood and Prospect Park, and with turnout that the candidates variously described as "huge" and "astronomical," there are plenty of voters to glad-hand.

In another sign that the race to succeed retiring state Rep. Ron Raymond (R-Delaware) will be a tight one, the two 162nd Legislative candidates are close to even in their recent fundraising efforts.