V.W.H. Campbell, Post-Gazette Jason Altmire, Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods, talks with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean along Gleneagle Road in Murrysville yesterday. Mr. Dean, in the area to assist in Mr. Altmire's campaign, spoke to a group of volunteers who were going to canvass the area in support of Mr. Altmire's candidacy.

By Bill Heltzel
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Democratic Party is so sure that three-term incumbent Congresswoman Melissa Hart can be unseated that national chairman Howard Dean campaigned for challenger Jason Altmire yesterday in Murrysville.

"Jason is a fine guy," the former presidential candidate and Vermont governor said while stumping for Mr. Altmire on Gleneagle Drive. "But unless he can win this seat, I don't do this kind of thing."

The Hart campaign responded that Mr. Dean is an extreme, left-wing liberal, and that campaigning with him shows that Mr. Altmire is out of touch with the district's values.

The Democratic National Committee organized door-to-door canvassing yesterday, 100 days before the Nov. 7 election, in congressional districts throughout the United States.

Mr. Altmire, of McCandless, said he is closer now than the final votes in Ms. Hart's previous three elections. Two months ago, his polling found him trailing her 53 percent to 39 percent, "when a lot of people didn't know me."

Now, when pitted against no specific opponent, his polling shows Ms. Hart, of Bradford Woods, with a 50 percent to 45 percent edge.

So his strategy is to meet voters.

The 4th Congressional District spans all or parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties. It has about 55,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, said Mr. Altmire, but is culturally conservative.

Mr. Altmire, 38, grew up in Lower Burrell, played football for Florida State University, studied health care administration at George Washington University, and worked in Washington for Florida U.S. Rep. Pete Peterson. In 1998 he went to work for UPMC.

He said Ms. Hart's easy electoral victories are misleading. Her opponent in 2002 and 2004, Stevan Drobac Jr., was underfunded. Also, before the 2004 election, the retired police officer and former flight attendant was diagnosed with bone cancer.

Mr. Altmire has positioned himself as a centrist. He characterized Ms. Hart's voting record as too conservative for the district, and described her as "joined at the hip" with U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, who is in a tough re-election battle with Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey.

The biggest issue is health care, he said, and his background as a health care executive gives him an edge. He also thinks Ms. Hart's voting record on veterans issues is weak.

"Health care is an important issue," said Hart campaign manager Luke Myslinski. "She will talk health care with him any time."

He said Ms. Hart has voted for increased funding for veterans and has the support of veterans.

"Melissa Hart has been elected three times with 60 percent-plus of the vote," he said, "and she feels she's in touch with the values of the district."

About 75 people gathered yesterday at Bob's Inn, where Mr. Dean rallied the troops.

"This is how we're going to win," he said, "knocking on doors and introducing ourselves, especially to people who didn't vote for us last time. ... This is hard work. When you get tired, think of your kids, of leaving them a stronger country."

Then supporters fanned out to knock on doors. Reporters were directed to Gleneagle Drive, a Democratic-leaning neighborhood that Mr. Dean and Mr. Altmire canvassed for an hour.

"They said they want to unseat the present congressman, Melissa," said Bob Snyder, a retiree who was first on their list. "I thought that's OK as far as I'm concerned."

But he considers himself neither Republican nor Democrat. He's not "jumping on the bandwagon" for anyone, but meeting the candidate makes the contest more interesting.

Farther up the street, Dave Williams gave Mr. Dean a tip: Don't let them treat you dirty like they did two years ago in the presidential campaign.

The face-to-face encounter made no difference. Mr. Williams voted for Mr. Altmire in the May primary.

"I'm already in line," he said.