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Hanna Statement May Indicate Renewed Interest in ’10 Bid

Construction executive and 2008 Congressional candidate Richard Hanna (R) dipped his toe into 2010 politics Tuesday with a press release condemning Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.) for backing the House’s health care reform bill.Hanna lost to Arcuri 48 percent to 52 percent in 2008 and is continuing to mull another run, but he has been staying out of the public eye, until now. Renee Gamela, a Hanna spokeswoman, said Hanna “felt compelled— to issue the release “because it’s such an important issue— and said it does not indicate a campaign announcement is imminent. Gamela is not on staff but stepped in to help Hanna distribute the release — the only one he has sent out so far this cycle — after working on his 2008 campaign.In the statement, Hanna calls the bill, which passed the House Saturday night, “well intentioned but ill-conceived.—“It expands government by placing health care under additional government controls but does nothing to improve the quality of health care,— Hanna said. “I am disappointed that once again Michael Arcuri has voted with Speaker Pelosi and against the interest of Upstate New York.—At the moment Arcuri, who won an open-seat race in 2006, does not have an opponent. Hanna, who is capable of self-funding, represents Republicans’ best hope to mount a serious challenge to the Democratic incumbent in what remains a swing district in upstate New York.

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