As a sometimes raucous contest to succeed John Murtha edged toward its final day, Democratic candidate Mark Critz stumped today in Washington County accompanied by the baritone voice of Bowzer from the singing group Sha-Na-Na and the adolescent voices of protesters from a Christian group supporting Republican Tim Burns.

"Hey -- it's a great civic experiment, isn't it?" Mr. Critz said as he ordered lunch at Krency's, a diner in the town of Washington, on the western fringe of the 12th Congressional District.

Young students who described themselves as home-schooled traveled from as far away as Pottsville in Schuylkill County to protest the Critz campaign.

Carrying signs and chanting, "Vote for Tim! Vote for Tim!" the students stood outside two of the Critz appearances.

Customers at both Krency's and an earlier stop at another diner slightly outnumbered the protesters and were entertained by Jon Bauman, the singer from Sha-Na-Na, who bellowed out, "Vote twice for Mark!"

Tomorrow's election pits Mr. Critz against Mr. Burns in a bid to fill the remaining eight months of the late Mr. Murtha's term. Both also are on the ballot seeking their respective party's nomination for a full term in November.

The protesters said they were with a group called Generation Joshua. One of the organizers, James Flath, described the group as anti-abortion and pro-family

One of them paused from chanting slogans for Mr. Burns long enough to thank Mr. Critz for his position against legal abortion.

Another protester, Glenn Bertsch, a home-schooler from Pottsville, said his organization got a call from someone in the Burns campaign, inviting them to come to the 12th Distict to work on behalf of the Republican.

"We're just trying to show that there's more than one candidate in the race," Glenn said.

Last week a group of pro-Critz pickets appeared outside a Burns rally in suburban Johnstown.

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