Manchin, Brown to campaign in race for Murtha seat

WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — Two more notable political names are coming to western Pennsylvania to campaign for candidates in the competitive special election race to fill the term of the late Rep. John Murtha.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin is scheduled to appear later today at a rally in Washington, Pa., with Democratic candidate Mark Critz to talk about jobs and the economy. Critz was a former top aide to Murtha, who died in February.

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts is scheduled to come to Washington County on May 14 to campaign for Republican candidate Tim Burns, a millionaire businessman from Eighty Four.

The race is being closely watched by political observers around the country as Democrats try to fend off GOP gains this fall in the midterm elections.