Erie County Councilman Kyle Foust (D) is one step closer to challenging Rep. Phil English (R) in 2008, as he is set today to announce he is forming an exploratory committee that will allow him to raise money for a potential run at the Democratic nomination in the 3rd district.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has signaled that Foust is one of its top choices to take on English, who won re-election in the previous cycle with 54 percent of the vote against a little-known, underfunded challenger. Democrats believe English is vulnerable against a well-funded officeholder, but Republicans disagree.

In addition to his part-time position as a county councilman, Foust is a career services director at Mercyhurst College in Erie.
— David M. Drucker