The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a poll today that shows Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy within striking distance of Mike Fitzpatrick in a head to head match-up. Fitzpatrick and Murphy are in a tight race in Pennsylvania's 8th District which includes Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County and Philadelphia. John Kerry won the district in 2004 and it is considered one of the top pickup opportunities in the country.

"This recent poll shows what Pennsylvania families already know, Mike Fitzpatrick's rubberstamp support for Bush on Iraq, Social Security and Stem Cell research are out of touch with Pennsylvania values," said Bill Burton, communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Fitzpatrick is a loyal supporter of the Bush agenda when it matters most and voters have a clear choice this November between Fitzpatrick's more of the same agenda and Patrick Murphy's vision for changing how things are done in Washington."

The poll was conducted during the first week of September by Grove Insight and shows a 43-38 initial head to head match-up between Fitzpatrick and Murphy. The poll also showed Bush approval rating at only 35% with 62% of respondents indicating that the country is headed in the wrong direction.