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<b>First Posted:</b> 6/21/2008<br><br>BILL O &amp;rsquo; BOYLE 
 
 boboyle@www.timesleader.com


U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski has a new campaign manager &amp;ndash; the former executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party.
Kanjorski campaign spokesman Ed Mitchell confirmed Friday that Wilkes-Barre native Joe Werner is returning to his hometown to run Kanjorski&amp;rsquo;s re-election campaign.
Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, is seeking his 13th two-year term in the 11th Congressional District. He is opposed by Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, whom he defeated by 22,000 votes in 2002.
Werner has been executive director of South Carolina Democrats for the past year. He helped organize the January presidential primary and debates after leading Hillary Clinton&amp;rsquo;s presidential exploratory committee in South Carolina. Friday was his last day in that position.
Werner did not return a voice message left on his phone.
Mitchell declined comment, only to say that Werner is moving to the area this weekend and will be available for comment on Monday.
Ken Spain, press secretary at the National Republican Campaign Committee, said, &amp;ldquo;This is proof positive that Paul Kanjorski&amp;rsquo;s campaign is on the run. Either he is hemorrhaging staff because they know he can&amp;rsquo;t win, or the campaign is in such political peril that they are desperately in need of professionals.&amp;rdquo;
When contacted by e-mail, Mitchell declined to offer any information on Werner&amp;rsquo;s hiring, but responded to Spain&amp;rsquo;s comments.
&amp;ldquo;The NRCC and their Bush-McCain Republican operatives should stick to running the Barletta campaign,&amp;rdquo; Mitchell said. &amp;ldquo;We&amp;rsquo;ll run our campaign and make an announcement on our capable campaign manager in due time.&amp;rdquo;
When Mitchell was asked who Werner was replacing, he said, &amp;ldquo;We had someone for a few weeks earlier on, but it didn&amp;rsquo;t work out. Joe will start Monday.&amp;rdquo;

    

Bill O&amp;rsquo;Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.

Former S.C. Dem chief to work for Kanjo