Democrats to the left Of Dent, Republicans to the right

Healthcare reform is galvanizing challengers to Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) on both sides of the political spectrum.

On the right, former tea party activist Mathew Benol cited his opposition to healthcare reform when he announced he's taking steps toward a primary challenge to Dent.

''I'm not a constitutional scholar, but our government doesn't have the power to do what it is doing right now,'' Benol told the Allentown Morning Call.

Dent voted against the House version of the healthcare reform bill, he’s in the tea party crosshairs for his willingness to vote with Democrats on other issues. Tea party activists have shown their political muscle this cycle, helping a Conservative Party candidate oust the Republican nominee in a New York special election earlier this year and the group has held rallies on Capitol Hill.
 
Meanwhile, on the left, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan (D) has made healthcare a signature issue in the campaign.

Callahan, the likely Dem nominee, outraised Dent by $100,000 in the last quarter and will have strong support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
 
During the GOP primary, Benol won't have the “official support” of the local branch of the Tea Party movement because it doesn't endorse candidates. But Kim Schmidtner, one of the group's leaders, said she expects many of the group's members will decide to back Benol as individuals.

''We're really excited about it,'' Schmidtner said. ''This is part of the group's focus, educating people and getting them to step up and get involved.''

Benol, a project manager with a packaging company, plans to officially launch his campaign in January.

Dent has been heavily targeted by the Democratic Party. Earlier this month he was one of five House Republicans subjected to a DCCC-paid ad campaign that criticized the lawmakers for opposing financial regulatory overhaul. On Friday he was targeted by a DCCC-automated call campaign on the same issue.