TRR photo by David Hulse The national campaign’s only glancing blow to Pike County was a post-convention bus roll-by from senators Kerry and Edwards, pictured above, but the issues and personalities in the election have polarized Pennsylvania’s fastest growing county.

Election frenzy peaking in Pike

By DAVID HULSE

MILFORD, PA—Pike County’s most prominent Democrat concedes that the county will be won by President Bush next Tuesday.

But the question is, by how much.

While Democrat Al Gore won Pennsylvania by 200,000 votes in the 2000 election, President Bush won a comparatively narrow 54-percent victory in Pike County over the combination of Gore and Ralph Nader.

Anticipating another close election, Republicans are hoping to better that figure, but population growth in the county has lessened their registration plurality in this traditional GOP stronghold.

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Pattern of GOP strength faces Kerry in Wayne

By CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

HONESDALE, PA—Presidential election figures displayed domination of Wayne County by the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2000, and the breakdown of voters registered to take part in the 2004 ballot suggests the strong possibility of a GOP reprise here.

Whether Wayne County will show itself to be a battleground county in the battleground state remains the burning question. The outcome depends largely on the degree of swing momentum created by registered Republicans—17,491 as of last week—who decide to pull the lever for John Kerry, the Democratic candidate for president.

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Kerry’s a thorny option for church leaders

By TOM KANE

RIVER VALLEY—The presidential candidacy of Democrat John Kerry is receiving mixed reviews by many Christian church leaders, locally and across the nation.

Some express their opposition to Kerry cautiously and indirectly; others express it outright. Still others skirt the issue entirely, leaving it up to the conscience of their congregants.

Pastor Lane Jones of Calkins Union Baptist Church in Wayne County takes the latter position. “It’s a tradition for our church not to take a position in an election,” he said.

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Also in this issue:

• Meet the local candidates
• Voter identification may be required at polls
• Democrats, Republicans say campaign signs were stolen
• Shedding light on the draft
• Highland voters weigh volunteer service payments
• The young and the restless

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S