HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Spokesman Mike Barley released the following statement after reading a report in the Bucks County Intelligencer that two former interns of Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy circulated petitions for 3^rd party candidate Tom Lingenfelter.

“Democrats are doing everything they can to ensure that Patrick Murphy won’t be held responsible for his extreme liberal voting record,” Barley said. “Democrats know that Patrick Murphy can’t beat Mike Fitzpatrick in a fair election, and that’s why they’re going to try every dirty trick in the book in order to muddy the waters for voters in this critical Congressional race.

“Unfortunately for Democrats, the people the 8^th Congressional District are disgusted with Patrick Murphy’s way of conducting business. They deserve a Congressman who will conduct himself and his campaign in a manner that is honorable, and that’s why they will elect Mike Fitzpatrick this November.”

The Bucks County Intelligencer detailed how two staff members of the Democratic State Party, and former interns for Patrick Murphy, helped gather signatures to get 3rd party candidate Tom Lingenfelter on the ballot.

Barley concluded, “I would also call on the Democratic State Party to reveal whether or not their staff members were gathering signatures as part of their regular duties and if so, they should in-kind all of the time spent getting Lingenfelter on the ballot to Patrick Murphy’s campaign.  After all, if their efforts didn’t benefit Patrick Murphy, why would the Democratic Party be so involved with gathering signatures for a 3rd party candidate?”

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