Rep. Christopher Carney (D-Pa.) said Wednesday night he will not switch parties despite appeals from the GOP and a phone plea from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “I appreciate the Republican Party’s outreach, but I have no plans to change parties,— Carney said in a statement. Carney was elected to Congress from his conservative northeastern Pennsylvania district in 2006, when a longtime GOP Congressman lost re-election in the midst of a personal scandal. Republicans have failed to recruit a top candidate against Carney this cycle, although the National Republican Congressional Committee was in talks with a few potentially competitive candidates as late as last week. According to his spokesman, Carney was approached by McCain about potentially running for re-election as a Republican. In the statement, Carney said he was “flattered— by the overtures from the GOP. “I am flattered by the overtures of Sen. McCain and other Republican Party officials and consider their outreach a sure sign that I have worked in a truly bipartisan manner,— Carney said. “I always put my district above political party and have maintained an independent voice. I have enjoyed widespread Republican support throughout my district and will continue to work closely with Democrats, Republicans and independents alike.—