Rick Geist vs John McGinnis: Geist's campaign in serious trouble

STATE REPRESENTATIVE RICK GEIST SEEKS UNION SUPPORT TO SAVE HIS CAMPAIGN

I have a few conservative friends here in Altoona who are involved in the Rick Geist's campaign that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. Now we find ourselves on opposite sides of this campaign, fighting over who will do a better job representing our conservative value in Harrisburg. In my mind there is no doubt that John McGinnis is the right man for the job.

Time after time Rick Geist has let us down when it counted the most. Rick Geist voted the 1995 legislative pay raise which included the yearly cost of living increases. In 2003, Geist voted for the Governor Ed Rendell's budget that increased our income taxes by 15% and increased Harrisburg spending by almost 30%. In 2005, Geist voted for the now infamous midnight pay raise that increased his pay by another 28%.  Then we must consider Geist's decision to support increasing his taxpayer-funded pension by 51%. This record is hardly a conservative one.

During this campaign, Geist has chosen to remain silent and has made every effort to dodge opportunity after opportunity to defend his 34 years in Harrisburg. Last month, Geist skipped out on a chance to debate his challenger John McGinnis during an event sponsored by the Blair Chamber of Commerce. This gave McGinnis some momentum and was a complete embarrassment for the Geist. Then a couple of weeks ago Geist turned down an opportunity to speak at a local Republican Women's Club meeting.

But what I saw tonight on TV takes the cake my conservative friends. I turned on the local Public Access Channel and there was Rick Geist on the Labor in Blair County TV show hosted by his good buddy Bob Kutz who just happens to be the President of the Blair Bedford Labor Council. I just couldn't believe it. Does Geist even know he is running in a republican primary? As a conservative voter, I just loved the Union Yes sign that was directly behind Geist during the show. Nice touch! Don't know who the decision makers are over at the Giest campaign, but it has been a debacle so far.

If, Geist thinks union buddies are going to save him in a republican primary he is crazy.

Word on the street here is that the Geist camp is very worried about his prospects of wining the upcoming primary election on April 24th. Recent polling data is showing that this race is very close. The possibility of Geist losing is even being discussed in Harrisburg amongst some legislators. Add this to all the flyers I have been getting from the House Republican Campaign Committee on a daily basis now and you have a recipe for disaster within the Geist campaign. Once Harrisburg gets involved in a local campaign for an incumbent it doesn't always end well. Just ask former President Pro Temp Bob Jubelirer.

So in the end, the pay raise may claim another powerful incumbent in Harrisburg. And that would be O.K. with the primary voters here in the 79th legislative district. If we didn't vote for Pay Raise Bob than why would Geist and Harrisburg insiders think we would vote for Pay Raise Geist.

For more information on John McGinnis's candidacy please visit www.mcginnis2012.com.