One sign that Mercer County’s congressional race this November will see some national attention — and pressure — is that U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper has been targeted by Sarah Palin.

Mrs. Palin, former governor of Alaska and John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 election, included Mrs. Dahlkemper, Erie, D-3rd District, in her list of 20 Democrats who voted for health care reform in districts that the GOP wants to take back in 2010.

Encouraging conservatives who oppose the health care law to “get organized” instead of demoralized, Mrs. Palin wrote on her Facebook page that they intend to “print pink slips for members of Congress as fast as they’ve been printing money.”

But Mrs. Dahlkemper is not surprised, said her communications spokeswoman Marie Francis. As the first Democrat to hold the 3rd District office in 32 years, Mrs. Dahlkemper expected stiff competition “no matter what she does or how moderate she is.”

Ms. Francis cited a National Journal finding that listed Mrs. Dahlkemper as the House of Representatives’ 8th-most centrist Democrat. That non-partisan review came out before her health care vote on Sunday.

It’s not clear yet who Mrs. Dahlkemper will face in the general election, since six Republicans are vying for that opportunity. They debate for the first time in Mercer County at 7 tonight in Schict Auditorium of the Hall of Arts and Letters, Grove City College.

The public is invited to attend.

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