John Murtha is in intensive care as a result of complications from last week’s gall bladder surgery. This comes on the heels of a rather anemic fourth quarter fund-raising report for Murtha, which has led to speculation that the 77-year-old Congressman won’t be running for reelection.

Murtha entered the annals of infamy when he accused U.S. Marines of murdering innocent Iraqi civilians in cold blood. These charges have since been dropped or proven false for all but one of the eight Marines involved (one case is still pending), yet Murtha has never apologized.

Murtha’s Congressional seat was considered safe for Democrats, given that he is a 36-year incumbent. But according to Chris Cillizza, things will change if he retires:

Without Murtha seeking re-election, however, the district would be extremely competitive. In 2008, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) carried it by less than 1,000 votes (out of more than 260,000 cast) while Sen. John  Kerry (D-Mass.) won the 12th by a narrow 51 percent to 49 percent  margin four years earlier. The trend line in the district is not moving in the right direction for Democrats, however, as the Vice President Al Gore carried Murtha’s seat with 55 percent in 2000.

Republicans believe Pennsylvania is shaping up as very friendly territory for them. The party has united behind state Attorney General Tom Corbett in  the governor’s race and former Rep. Pat Toomey in the Senate contest. On the House side, Republicans see Pennsylvania’s 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th districts as potential pickup opportunities. Democrats see the 6th and 15th districts are chances for them to gain Republican-held seats in the fall.

Things just keep looking up for Republicans. Must be part of Obama’s “change”.

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