Pennsylvania Dem attends event with Biden, but not in his district

Rep. Mark Critz (D-Pa.) continues to keep the Obama administration at arm's length, even as he accepts its fundraising help.

Critz represents Pennsylvania's 12th district, but traveled to Pittsburgh, which is in the 14th, on Monday for a fundraising event with Vice President Joe Biden.

During the special election earlier this year that saw him succeed the late Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), Critz benefited from a fundraiser that was also staged in the city.

Biden is thought to be unpopular in Critz's coal-country district because of comments he made about building coal power plants during the 2008 campaign.

During the midday event at the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh, Critz acknowledged his differences with the Obama administration on coal issues.

"Although I'm at odds with the administration over this issue, he is
 willing to come here and campaign for me,'' Critz said of Biden.

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.) also attended the event. "We do have a very tough race in front of us, both Mark and I,” she said, according to the pool report.

President Obama, meanwhile, was also helping his party raise money. He spoke at a fundraiser hosted by former NBA star Alonzo Mourning at his Coral Gables home. The $1 million expected to be raised from the event is going to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Florida Rep. Ron Klein (D).