Although his name has been struck from the April 22 primary ballot, William Russell isn’t giving up.
Russell, the GOP candidate attempting to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. John Murtha of Johnstown, participated Monday in a Washington, D.C., press conference with other Iraq War veterans who are running for Congress.
They gathered to show their support for U.S. troops and for Gen. David Petraeus, the nation’s top commander in Iraq.
Russell, who is trying to gain 1,000 write-in votes in the primary to become his party’s nominee, said the veterans’ message stands in contrast to Democratic congressional leaders’ calls for a troop withdrawal.
“We’re all about supporting the troops,” Russell said. “It’s a chance for us to get together, because we feel we have a story to tell.”
Murtha has argued that the war has been mismanaged and cannot be won militarily.
Russell, an Army veteran of both wars in Iraq, was joined Monday by five other Republican candidates who issued a statement saying they are “willing to stake our lives on General Petraeus’ integrity.”
Russell said conditions in Iraq are improving, adding that calls for withdrawal send the wrong message.
“As long as we don’t encourage the enemy and allow them to think they can achieve a political victory with terror, things will get better,” he said.
Russell must vie for write-in votes because a judge ruled that he did not have enough valid petition signatures to appear on the ballot.
Local News
Murtha rival soldiers on, even off the ballot
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Somerset County teacher accused of using insulting names
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Seward tax preparer set to plead in federal court
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Police probing financial irregularities at Indiana County parish
State police say they’re investigating financial “irregularities” at a Catholic parish with five worship sites in Indiana County, after the local diocese reported the problems to police.
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Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Video: Young bear, wolf play together
It’s like something out of a children's book: A bear cub meets a wolf cub and they become the best of friends. Even though they are different species and ferocious predators, the unlikely couple stays pals for life.
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Two Cambria district judge offices to be cut
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Westmont couple inseparable, even in death
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Company buys valuables from people ready to unload
Jan Hagerich’s buffalo nickel was “healthy” – which was unhealthy for her finances.
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Special Olympics return to region
More than 300 athletes eager to show off their skills, along with 135 coaches, will be coming to the region to take part in the 2012 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games.
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Special Olympics Schedule
Here is a list of events related to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Winter Games through Tuesday at venues across the region:
Saturday
• Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics; Quemahoning Reservoir near Boswell; registration at 9:30 a.m.; plunge at 1 p.m. - More Local News Headlines
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