Pennsylvania GOP Candidate Roots for Rival Tampa Bay Rays

by Hill Staff - 10/27/08 9:58 AM ET

Republican candidate for Congress Lou Barletta is finding himself in a bit of a tough situation during this year’s World Series, as the Hazleton, Pennsylvania mayor said he is rooting for the Tampa Bay Rays over the local Philadelphia Phillies.

Hazleton is the hometown of Rays manager Joe Maddon, which according to an ESPN report, has driven the eastern Pennsylvania town into Rays fever, despite Philadelphia being only 90 miles away.

“I can’t help but think back to days when we were on the field together,” Barletta told ESPN of Maddon. “He’s the same guy. Even when he comes back to town, he hasn’t changed one bit.”

“But at the end of the day, it’s Joe Maddon and he’s from Hazleton, and there’s only one team to root for for me, and that’d be Tampa Bay,” Barletta followed up.

Barletta is currently the Republican candidate for congress in Pennsylvania’s 11th congressional district, where he is challenging longtime Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D). The race has been closely contested, and represents one of the few pickup opportunities available to House Republicans during next week’s election.

Watch the ESPN report here:

–Michael O’Brien