WILKES BARRE, Penn.-Credit union volunteers are actively raising campaign funds, manning phone banks and fanning out through the state's 11th District in an effort to save Congressman Paul Kanjorski, the sponsor of key credit union legislation, who is trailing his Republican opponent in a bid for a 13th term, less than two weeks from election day.
The close race comes as the world's financial crisis has raised Kanjorski's congressional profile as chairman of the House Financial Services subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, which has jurisdiction over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and insurance giant AIG. It remains to be seen how Kanjorski's role as one of the House leaders in the passage of the $700-billion financial rescue will resonate with voters.
"Between us and CUNA we've been pulling out all of the stops," said James McCormack, president of the Pennsylvania CU Association. McCormack said credit unions and the league have sponsored fundraisers for Kanjorski, organized volunteers to go door-to-door, published endorsements in their newsletters and had members hold open houses where Kanjorski could meet with voters.
Several credit unions, including Tobyhanna Army Depot FCU, Cross Valley FCU, Choice One Community FCU, Service 1st FCU and Penn East FCU, have helped man phone banks to call and solicit voters. Kanjorski has visited numerous credit unions to meet voters over the last few months.
Kanjorski, 71, has established himself as credit unions' most reliable ally in Congress, having co-authored the landmark bill HR 1151, the CU Membership Access Act, as well as the more recent, CU Regulatory Improvements Act, better known as CURIA.
Recent polls show the 12-term Congressman trailing his opponent, Lou Barletta, the 50-year-old mayor of Hazelton, who has made himself a national reputation by getting a city ordinance passed making it illegal to employ or rent to illegal immigrants. Barletta has raised his profile with interviews on 60 Minutes and Lou Dobbs' MoneyLine.
The two have clashed before, with Kanjorski easily beating Barletta in a 2002 race for the congressional seat.
But the Republican's stance against illegal immigrants and their impact on jobs has apparently taken hold in this blue collar district with high unemployment, even during an election when the Democrats appear to be on the rise nationwide.
Ironically, Kanjorski's growing congressional role in mediating the financial meltdown has kept him from campaigning at home because Congress continues to hold hearings on the crisis in Washington.
Two recent polls published by Franklin & Marshall College show Barletta leading slightly. More than half of respondents said it was time for a new congressman.
Kanjorski's campaign was optimistic about recent trends. "It's fair to say the race is tightening up in our favor and we're confident we're going to win," said Adam Benson, a spokesman for the campaign. He said Kanjorski will be making a special effort to connect with voters over the final three weeks of the campaign.
