This post was originally published on Politico.

Facing his toughest election challenge in years, GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has blanketed southeast Pennsylvania with attacks on his Democratic opponent — many of them citing what appear to be independent local news reports.

“Bob Harvie calls himself a king,” reads one article quoted in a June television spot.

“Bob Harvie has his FBI files but refuses to release them,” reads another headline quoted in a September digital ad.

Another quotes, “Bob Harvie to independent voters: ‘join a political party or lose your right to vote.’”

These ads and five others all cite headlines from Patch, once a well-funded experiment

Author: By Riley Rogerson