JOHNSTOWN -- The mudslinging between 12th district congressional candidates Diana Irey and John Murtha is getting messier. Irey now claims Murtha is afraid to debate her.

In a news conference, Diana Irey attacked Congressman Murtha on everything from his ethics to his voting record. This after a recent Susquehanna Poll showed Murtha leading Irey 57 percent to 30 percent.

Irey said, "He voted against the re-authorization of the Patriot Act. He voted to tax social security. He voted against the traditional marriage amendment. He voted to fund stem cell research, I would have voted otherwise."

Irey claims that Murtha has refused to debate her on the issues because she says, he is scared. "Perhaps Mr. Murtha is scared to debate me, because he knows I will hold him accountable for the voters for his long history of questionable behavior trading hundreds of millions of dollars in ear marked, federal appropriations, for millions of dollars in campaign contributions," said Irey.

Irey also brought up Murtha's outspokenness in the Marine Haditha scandal, and more. John Murtha's office was not available for comment Friday morning on Irey's debate claims. But before Irey's news conference Thursday, Murtha said, "If she's all anti-Murtha, that's fine. I'm third in influence in the Congress right now. Anybody newly elected is going to be at the bottom. I've been on the appropriations committee for 31 years. If you want to take care of the district and national problems, you got to have some influence."