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With the general election just 50 days away, the challenger for the 10th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock, made his own visit to Williamsport Monday.

Republican nominee Chris Hackett met with reporters at the party's election headquarters in the Basin Street Plaza about an hour after the incumbent spoke at a legislative breakfast in the city on such topics as the proposed energy bill and Carney's own proposed Made in America Act.

Hackett called the Made in America Act "more of a campaign tactic" than anything else and predicted it never would get out of committee. He also alleged the Democratic incumbent has amassed a "liberal voting record" since being elected less than two years ago that includes 13 votes opposing offshore oil and gas drilling and two against debating proposed energy legislation.

Hackett alleged Carney "doesn't understand how businesses operate" or the additional tax complications his proposed bill would create.

"Just cut (business) taxes across the board," he said. "and create an environment that doesn't complicate the tax code."

Hackett also criticized Carney for not accepting his early-summer suggestion that a series of debates be held, claiming he proposed eight debates - five of them single-issue debates and three of them televised - but Carney only was willing to do one debate five days prior to the election.

During the news conference Hackett received the endorsements of three area small business owners - Ken DiRocco of Impact Advertising, Robert Van Dine of Rapid Pathogen Screen and insurance agency owner Renee Rodarmel.

Hackett's comments drew a swift response when the Carney camp was asked to react.

"Here we go again," replied campaign manager Vincent A. Rongione, who summed up the challenger's comments as "more mudslinging and negative attacks."

"It is clearly a tactic of desperation to so willfully mislead voters and to attack a bi-partisan bill (which is) aimed at creating good manufacturing jobs ... and keeping our economy strong," he added.

He also said the congressman reacted, when told of Hackett's debate comments, by suggesting they may imply the challenger now wants to get out of the scheduled debate they do have.