Influence Alley

HAGERSTOWN, Md. -- Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., closed a recent debate here by rattling off his biography for the crowd: born in 1926, a child of the Depression, and a House member for 20 years.

"I hope that service has justified another two years." Polite applause followed.

By contrast, Democratic opponent John Delaney offered his most pointed attack all night against the 10-term congressman, blasting Bartlett for being a member of the tea party, "which is an organization that came to Washington to do nothing, to defeat everything [Washington] tries to get done. I want to go to Washington and get things done."

Despite a few jeers of "no," Delaney's remarks were met mostly with loud cheers and enduring applause in this usually conservative part of the state.

The Democratic newcomer is now poised to unseat a longtime incumbent in what has long been one of the GOP's safest seats in Congress. A new poll from The Baltimore Sun shows Delaney with 42 percent and Bartlett with 41 percent. The poll surveyed 610 likely 6th district voters, and was conducted Oct. 20 to Oct. 25.