Breaking news from Congressional Quarterly:

Pennsylvania’s 6th District (Southeast — parts of Berks and Chester counties, Philadelphia suburbs)

Incumbent: Jim Gerlach , R (retiring to run for governor)

New: Tossup

Was: Leans Democratic

Gerlach’s decision to leave open his seat in this Democratic-trending district — which he had to use all of his political talents to hold in a series of close races — initially prompted CQ Politics to rate the 2010 race as Leans Democratic.

But the Republicans’ chances to keep this seat were boosted when Welch switched over in September from his original plan to run in the neighboring 7th District, where he would have faced a tough GOP primary. The 6th District general election race is now rated a Tossup.

Campaign fundraising is vital in this district because it includes the expensive Philadelphia media market. Welch has already put almost a half-million dollars of his own funds into his bid for the seat, eclipsing the other Republicans in the race. State Rep. Curt Schroder brought in $108,600 during the year’s third fundraising quarter, while Chester County Recorder of Deeds Ryan Costello only raised about $30,000.

The 6th District race remains one of the Democratic Party’s best takeover opportunities, however. Democrats also appear to have a candidate who is willing to self-fund at least part of his bid. Former newspaper writer Doug Pike, son of former New York Rep. Otis G. Pike (1961-79), has already put in $622,000 of the $1 million that Democrats say he is willing to spend on his own bid.

Pike, though, will not get by without a primary contest. Physician Manan Trivedi is mounting a spirited challenge for the Democratic nomination, and brought in $127,000 during his first few weeks in the race. — Shira Toeplitz