Though she represents a nominally Democratic district, Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods, has won easily in each of her three runs for Congress. Undeterred by that record, at least two Democrats are vying for the chance to take her on next year.

Georgia Berner, a Butler County business owner and Jason Altmire, a vice president for government relations at UPMC Health System, are both poised to launch challenges for the 4th District seat, which includes Beaver County and extends through communities north of the city of Pittsburgh on into Westmoreland County.

Hart, a former state senator, won the 4th District seat in 2000. Her matchup with former state Rep. Terry Van Horne was expected to be closely contested but instead she won in a landslide. A Republican-controlled redistricting map following the 2000 census made the district even more hospitable to Republicans. Although it still has a Democratic registration advantage, President Bust carried it by a comfortable margin in 2004.

Both of the prospective Democratic candidates, nonetheless, feel that Hart may be vulnerable, and neither shows any concern about the financial or political costs of a Democratic primary.

"A primary is a good thing,'' said Berner. "I don't have name recognition now and a primary can change that."

Altmire wouldn't confirm his political plans, but he did not dispute a report that surfaced first aired on the Web site PoliticsPa that he would resign his UPMC post next month to pursue the congressional race.

"I'm prohibited from talking about it or actively exploring anything until July 22," he said. But, he added pointedly, "I think it's clear in my leaving here that I'm exploring a political race and my entire level of expertise is with the federal government.''

Berner is the president of Berner International Corp., a New Castle firm that manufactures products including air doors, designed to form a barrier to retain heat or air conditioning through open doors.

Altmire is the acting vice president for government relations and community services for UPMC.

Berner has signed John Marshall as her campaign manager. Marshall worked in the Western Pennsylvania operation of Gov. Ed Rendell's gubernatorial campaign against former Attorney General Mike Fisher, who is now a federal judge. Altmire said it was premature to discuss campaign logistics.