Area Democrats had their "game faces" on Thursday night at The New Deal Club in Farrell, standing behind their ticket and promising to do whatever it takes to get voters to the polls on "Super Poll" Tuesday.

Thursday, the Democratic political club -- which began meeting in a Farrell garage the same year Franklin Delano Roosevelt took office 67 years ago -- was home turf for U.S. House candidate Marc Flitter, state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza, and Mark Longietti, a Farrell native who spoke on behalf of U.S. Rep. Ron Klink.

Each campaign has been out-raised and outspent in the money race, but, as Flitter said, on Nov. 7 "they count votes not dollars."

Flitter, a neurosurgeon at Erie’s Hamot Medical Center, is challenging third-term Republican U.S. Rep. Phil English in the 21st Congressional District. Flitter said his campaign is "finishing strong and going to win."

Flitter called the stop at the Farrell club "the highlight of the campaign" but said he had expected another highlight earlier Thursday at Slippery Rock University, not another cancelled debate.

English’s House business led to at least four debate cancellations. But Flitter said English had not voted Thursday, and the Senate adjourned, meaning no significant legislation could pass.

"He is hiding out in Washington. Maybe he feels he has nothing to gain by debating, but people will decide if they want to elect someone who won’t debate," Flitter said.

The candidates have debated once this year on Erie radio. English called in from Washington.

Gruitza, seeking an 11th term against challenging Republican Jack Kopen in the 7th state House District, said he is "energized" this year.

"But this race isn’t about me. It’s about the people of this district having an honest-to-God friend in Harrisburg," Gruitza said.

"He (Kopen) is leading people down Malarkey Lane," Gruitza said, referring to a massive Kopen ad campaign which has painted Gruitza as an absentee legislator. The bulk of the ads have been funded by the state GOP committee in an effort to unseat Gruitza. Gruitza has tried to defuse the most explosive claims in Kopen’s ads and remind people of his efforts on behalf of the Shenango Valley district.

"Our truth squad is out there. I’m excited. Let’s send these boys in Harrisburg back with their tails between their legs and broke," he said Longietti spoke for Klink, who was attending a rally in Pittsburgh. Klink is trying to unseat U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. "It all about turnout now. We can win if we get out the vote," he said.

Longietti said Santorum, representing a state with the second-highest senior population, voted against a prescription drug plan for seniors that failed passing by two votes.

He added the state has more union members than any other state, yet Santorum voted with the AFL-CIO 17 percent of the time; Klink voted with the union 97 percent of the time.

William Biblis, president of Steelworkers Local 1016, has been a driving force in the county effort to get Flitter and other Democrats elected.

"I don’t feel we are the underdog. I think we’ll win every race. That’s what we’re working hard to do," Biblis said.

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