Lou Barletta sells self as a Trump-like fighter

Post-Gazette Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta is best known for his hard line on immigration, but the Hazleton Republican now running for U.S. Senate sees himself as much more than that.

He views himself as a strong businessman, a principled conservative, a Trump ally, a fiscal steward and a warrior in the fight against opioid addiction. Most of all, he sees himself as an alternative to Bob Casey, whom he labels as an obstructionist to President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Although Mr. Barletta first has to win the May 15 primary to get the chance to run in November, he seems to view primary challenger, state Rep. Jim Christiana of Beaver as a blip on his radar that he’s looking well beyond. The congressman’s message as he goes around the state talking with voters is that he can beat Mr. Casey.

Polls say otherwise, although it’s been a month since the latest ones and Mr. Barletta has been back and forth campaigning across the state since then.

“This election is going to be a contrast between me and Sen. Casey: what I’ve done in my private life as a businessman, what I’ve done as mayor, and what I’ve done in Congress versus what the senator’s lack of achievements have been,” Mr. Barletta said in a recent interview in Pittsburgh.

Likely voters polled a month ago by Muhlenberg College and the Morning Call said they’d rather keep Mr. Casey in office than elect either Mr. Barletta or Mr. Christiana. Still, it showed Mr. Barletta had the better chance. Mr. Casey came out ahead 48 percent to 32 percent in a direct matchup with Mr. Barletta, and he came out ahead 48 to 29 against Mr. Christiana. Major polling institutions have not surveyed voters on a primary matchup between Mr. Barletta and Mr. Christiana.

Barletta supporters expect his numbers to grow as voters become more familiar with him. Mr. Casey’s numbers are likely bolstered by better statewide name recognition stemming from his 12 years in the Senate and from voters’ familiarity with