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"I feel the momentum building," Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Lou Barletta said during a campaign rally in Altoona on Monday night.
"As I am meeting more and more Pennsylvanians, I am seeing more and more that they are behind what President (Donald) Trump and I stand for, and that is keeping the economy going, keep creating more jobs and decreasing unemployment; fighting for coal and steel jobs. They are dissatisfied with (U.S. Senator Robert "Bob") Casey, who has done nothing in these areas since he was elected."
A former small businessman from Hazleton, Barletta is serving his fourth term in Congress representing Pennsylvania's 11th District. The former Hazleton mayor opposes Democratic incumbent Casey, and especially Casey's pro-sanctuary city platform. He's taking a cross-state tour to raise his visibility. Barletta plans to visit two visit two small businesses in Ebensburg this morning.
In 2006, Barletta rose to national attention when, as mayor of Hazleton, he introduced the Illegal Immigration Relief Act in an effort against businesses that knowingly hired illegal immigrants.
Attendee Suzanne A. Johnson of Tipton said she admires Barletta for the stand that he took against illegal immigration years before it became a national hot-button issue. A staunch Trump supporter, Johnson added, "Trump supports him, so I support him."
Upon Barletta's arrival, rally participants lined up to shake his hand and have photos taken with him.
"It's a great crowd tonight," said Republican Bruce Erb, Blair County commissioner, surveying the red, white and blue bedazzled Bavarian Hall. "He's a good candidate from Hazleton, a city with a very similar history as our area's. He shares our conservative values; he's pro-life and supports small business."
More than 270 tickets were sold for the dinner and rally, said Lois Kaneshiki, former chairwoman of the Blair County Republican Committee, the event host.
"We have a few empty places, but, given that we had a date change, I'm pleased with the turnout," she said. "I know the people of Blair County will love him. He is like so many of us. He wanted to make his local community better, so he stepped up and wanted to be a role model."
The congressman's itinerary prevented him from attending an originally scheduled event planned for Aug. 23 in East Freedom.