GOP rift over Greenwood's open Pa. seat

WASHINGTON, July 26 (UPI) -- Pennsylvania Republicans have split over who should replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Greenwood in the commonwealth's 8th Congressional District.

Greenwood had already won renomination in this classically swing congressional district but is now backing GOP state Sen. Joe Conti to replace him.

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, leader of the conservatives in the Pennsylvania GOP, wants Bucks County Commissioner Michael Fitzpatrick to carry the GOP banner in November.

One of the most liberal Republicans in the House, Greenwood angered party colleagues when he put the word out in his district that he intended to leave Congress at the end of the year before he told House Speaker Denny Hastert, R-Ill., and other members of the GOP congressional leadership.

However, in what some Republicans are quietly calling a peace offering, Greenwood says he will donate the $600,000 in his campaign war chest to the National Republican Congressional Committee, which can then pass it along to state and local GOP organizations, the Philadelphia Inquirer said Monday.

The Republicans have until Aug. 19 to decide on a replacement for Greenwood, who is taking over the leadership of a bio-tech trade association, on the November ballot.