The Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 147th state House District has pretty much conceded the race to the Republican incumbent with three weeks to go before voters cast ballots.

Albert Van Anglen told The Mercury he was pushed into the race by Montgomery County Democratic Party leaders but isn't planning to do any active campaigning to unseat incumbent state Rep. Bob Mensch.

No signs, no mailers, no knocking on doors, no debates. It sounds like Van Anglen may not even bother to vote on Nov. 4, who told reporter Evan Brandt "I don't have time for running a campaign."

However, Van Anglen said if voters elect him, he is willing to go to Harrisburg to collect the $76,000 starting salary for a House member.

With that kind of attitude, would any voter in his right mind send Van Anglen to Harrisburg? It sounds like Van Anglen would rubber-stamp whatever the Harrisburg party bosses put in front of him.

Mensch, serving his first term in Harrisburg, has supported property tax elimination, government reform measures and voted against Gov. Ed Rendell's deficit budget for 2008-09.

Read the full story on the 147th District race in The Mercury.

For more on Rep. Bob Mensch, visit his campaign Web site, http://electmensch.com/