CRANBERRY TWP — Gordon Marburger has said he will work for Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalfe’s re-election, and Metcalfe has accepted his primary foe’s endorsement, but nobody would mistake this for a political hug.

“If I’m asked, I’ll work for Daryl for the good of the Republican Party,” Marburger said. “But I don’t think Daryl would want my help.”

Asked if he would vote for Metcalfe come Nov. 4, Marburger replied, “That’s private.”

For the record, Metcalfe said, “I would certainly welcome and appreciate Gordon’s support in the fall, like any other voter in the district.”

However, he acknowledged that the two probably would not do any campaign appearances together.

The lingering bitterness of their rough primary-election battle in the 12th Legislative District is still evident.

The two haven’t spoken since the eight-term incumbent captured the GOP nomination over his upstart challenger.

But Marburger has spoken to Lisa Zucco, Metcalfe’s Democratic rival in the fall election. And the two plan to talk again about the election.

Many believed the Republican primary would be a walkover for Metcalfe since Marburger ran a write-in campaign, a nearly impossible path to the nomination.

That decision came after the state Supreme Court removed Marburger from the GOP ballot, ruling he failed to file the necessary financial disclosure papers to run for office.

But despite the David-versus-Goliath odds for him, Metcalfe won a relatively close race, 3,276 to 2,706 votes.

The 12th District covers Adams, Clinton, Cranberry, Forward, Middlesex and Penn townships, and Callery, Mars, Seven Fields and Valencia.