Republicans in Pittsburgh?

From the TRIBUNE-REVIEW:

The last time Republicans had any real clout in Pittsburgh, Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat.
The city has been a bastion of Democratic political strength since the 1930s.
When state Rep. Michael Diven of Brookline switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP last week, it marked the first time in decades that a Republican lawmaker based in the city held a seat in the Legislature. The switch also positioned Diven to run for the state Senate seat formerly held by Jack Wagner, the state's new auditor general.
At least three Democrats also have emerged as potential candidates to succeed Wagner in the Senate.
County Councilman Wayne Fontana, a Brookline Democrat with political ties to Wagner, says he's running.
Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein and Frank Gigliotti Jr. have also expressed interest in running, said Tom Flaherty, chairman of the county Democratic Party. The party will select its nominee Feb. 17, Flaherty said.
"Everyone that has expressed interest is qualified. Whoever the Democratic Committee selects in that private ballot will be a wonderful candidate," Flaherty said. "It's a Democratic seat as far as registration. It will be a tough campaign, but I'm very optimistic a Democrat will win."
Gigliotti Jr., 34, of Brentwood, is the son of former state Rep. Frank Gigliotti, a longtime legislator from Brookline who was sentenced in 2000 to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to extortion, mail fraud and filing a false tax return. The younger Gigliotti said he's not worried about his father's history hurting his chances in his first run for public office.
"He made a mistake. He paid for his mistake. He's done many great things that a couple mistakes he made does not outweigh all the good deeds that he's done," the younger Gigliotti said.
Now an account manager for Traco, the younger Gigliotti said he is interested in party reform and strengthening the Democratic Party "for a better future."
"I have many aspirations. If I don't win this, I'll pursue something else," he said.
Fontana, 54, said he has a good shot at winning the seat if the Democrats nominate him.
"The obvious statistical reason is that the registration in this district is more Democratic than Republican," he said. "But I also believe that once the voters get to know me, they'll find out I'm very qualified to do an effective job."
Weinstein could not be reached for comment.
Several Republican lawmakers held House seats in the late 1960s and early 1970s that included parts of Pittsburgh, but none have since then until Diven's switch, according to House archives. There's been no Republican senator from the city in more than 50 years.
Barbara Ernsberger, chairwoman of the Pittsburgh Democratic Committee, said she doesn't regard Diven's switch as a threat to the party.
"I see it as someone who has taken a different path, for whatever reason," she said.
A special election is set for May 17 -- primary election day -- to fill the 42nd Senatorial seat formerly held by Wagner, a Beechview Democrat.
Republican and Democratic committee people from the senatorial district nominate party candidates for the special election. The first hurdle Diven would need to overcome is winning the GOP nomination over Republican David Jason, a Scott commissioner, who intends to run for the seat.
Diven, 34, said he won't announce his Senate candidacy until after he meets with local Republican leaders.
He admits it won't be an easy seat to win. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans about 5 to 1 in the city and by lesser ratios in most suburbs. The Senate district includes Pittsburgh's southern neighborhoods and suburbs.
"We're going to have to run a full-scale campaign, but I do think we have an intelligent group of voters who have the ability to vote for the candidate, not the party, and I think we have a great story to tell," Diven said.
If Diven wins the Senate seat, "it gives Pittsburgh a real plus," said Mike Long, chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Altoona. Jubelirer and other Senate Republicans encouraged Diven to make the party switch and run for the Senate. A win means the city will have representation in the majority caucus that sets the chamber's agenda, Long said.
Given recent trends favorable to the GOP in Southwestern Pennsylvania, "this is the area where Republicans believe they can make the most inroads," said G. Terry Madonna, a public policy professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster County.
Madonna pointed to Republican state Sen. Bob Regola's defeat of 26-year legislative veteran Allen Kukovich, D-Manor, in Westmoreland County in November. Also, Republicans occupy congressional seats just north and south of Pittsburgh