Breaking News: Sources say Barletta will run against Kanjorski 4:42 p.m.
By Borys Krawczeniuk, Staff Writer02/05/2008

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will seek the Republican nomination to the 11th Congressional District seat in hopes of knocking off Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, two sources familiar with his plans said today.

Both sources spoke on the condition they not be named. One of the sources said the official announcement would likely come at a rally Thursday, probably in Hazleton, on the eve of the state Republican Party's weekend meeting in Harrisburg.

The deadline for filing nomination petitions to run for Congress is Feb. 12. At the state GOP's behest, supporters of the mayor have been carrying out a "Draft Lou Barletta" campaign featuring petition-signing parties this week.

Kanjorski and Barletta are likely to win their parties' nominations because no one else has emerged to challenge either.

If they are the nominees, they would reprise their 2002 matchup, which Kanjorski won handily. Since then, however, Barletta has risen to national prominence by battling illegal immigration. Because of that, the race would instantly rise to become one of the most high-profile in the country.
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