Brian Lasher has confirmed to Action News 24 he will not seek the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania’s 3rd District, which would pit him against sitting Rep Kathy Dahlkemper (D) in November 2010.

Lasher’s withdrawal means for now Dahlkemper is unopposed.

His supporters found out Sunday night in a message sent to his Facebook group by his campaign manager.

In it she wrote: “Brian Lasher has a passion for teaching; he loves his students and he loves what he does in the class room. Because of this, the campaign had to be up and going by August - full blown. No if's and's or but's. Since it's a few months behind, Brian has decided to pull his name from the primary ballot.”

"He was going to have to work hard to get name recognition and try to build his campaign,” said Michael Federici, Ph.D., an election expert and professor at Mercyhurst College’s Political Science Department. “I think that's where he at least thinks that he got stuck."

The 3rd district is known to favor independents and moderates, and Lasher's dropping out leaves the Republicans with no obvious choice to take on Dahlkemper in 2010.

"There are several names circulating already, and several more we're going to talk to and look at. This race is much bigger than one candidate,” said Brad Moore, chairman of the Erie County Republican Party. “We're willing to entertain anybody who's willing to put in the time, effort, and raise the money and put together the organization to make themselves competitive.”

That's especially important this time around, because when it comes to incumbents, the first chance is often the best chance.

"If they don't get their act together and they don't run a viable candidate this time around, it's only going to become harder … to try and unseat [Dahlkemper],” Federici said.

For her part Dahlkemper says she welcomes any challenger, but she notes that it’s just 6 months into her first term – far too early, she says, to pay attention to whom she might face next November.

“We need to have elections where there's a choice for people and I welcome anyone who wants to run against me at 2010,” Dahlkemper said, “but I haven’t been focused on it at this point."

The Erie county GOP says they should settle on a candidate by the fall. The primary happens in May.