Posted on 02/02/2005 4:31:45 PM PST by He Rides A White Horse
The new state treasurer, an opponent of abortion rights and gun control, met with national Democratic leaders in Washington.
By Thomas Fitzgerald and Carrie Budoff
Inquirer Staff Writers
State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. met with national Democratic leaders in Washington yesterday to discuss a possible run for the U.S. Senate next year against Republican Sen. Rick Santorum.
The meeting with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, was the latest development in the party's intensifying search for the best candidate to topple one of its top targets.
National operatives have urged Casey, an opponent of abortion and gun control, to run against the conservative Santorum in part because of his strong showing in November. Casey won the state treasurer's job with the largest number of votes in Pennsylvania history and by sweeping socially conservative counties that have rejected other Democrats in recent years.
The Democratic campaign committee support would be crucial in helping the party's eventual nominee raise the kind of money required for such a marquee race. Santorum, who is up for reelection in 2006, has said he hoped to raise $25 million himself.
Phil Singer, spokesman for the campaign committee, declined to disclose details of yesterday's private meeting. But he said it's no secret that the party wants to bring down Santorum, who holds the No. 3 leadership position among Senate Republicans.
"He's certainly among the top people that the Democrats are going after," Singer said. "This is going to be a high-profile race."
Casey, 44, has said he is considering running. But his family has endured five election campaigns during the last eight years, and he also has said he is concerned about the toll a Senate race might take on them. Casey has told some state Democrats that he would prefer an uncontested primary if he were to run against Santorum.
The opportunity came suddenly for Casey, who was sworn into his new office just two weeks ago. He was not mulling a Senate bid until his strong showing in November got the attention of national Democrats struggling to figure out how to appeal to the rural and small-town voters who trampled Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.
State Democratic Chairman T.J. Rooney, who also has been mentioned as a Senate contender, says that he and other party leaders will do all they can to unite around a single candidate, to avoid a draining primary that would make it harder to beat Santorum.
Meanwhile, two other big-name Democrats are weighing the Senate race.
Barbara Hafer, who just concluded two terms as state treasurer, said she met recently with Reid and has hired a pollster who could begin testing public opinion on a possible race as early as next week.
"I'm exploring, trying to find some basic information," Hafer, 61, said. "Everybody's talking but we don't have any hard data. What are each candidate's strengths and weaknesses? What's Rick's vulnerability? Right now, it's just a lot of talk."
Hafer, a staunch supporter of abortion rights, was a Republican long on the outs with her national party's conservative leadership. She became a Democrat after endorsing Gov. Rendell in the 2002 governor's race. "I don't think we're going to have a contested primary," she said.
Last year's Democratic Senate nominee, former U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel, said he is interested in running against Santorum and does not believe a contested primary is a problem.
"I don't have any reluctance or fear about a primary," said Hoeffel, a supporter of abortion rights. "Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will be in great shape against Santorum. The party in both the state and nationally will be quite united."
Both Hafer and Hoeffel said they expected that Rendell would have a role in sorting out the field.
"He is trying to come up with a strong ticket," Hoeffel said.
Casey is an anti-choice, anti-gun control Democrat. Santorum is a Republican who supported infamous RINO Arlen Spector. Definitely a "choice" here, it seems.
Barbara Hafer:
"I'm exploring, trying to find some basic information," Hafer, 61, said. "Everybody's talking but we don't have any hard data. What are each candidate's strengths and weaknesses? What's Rick's vulnerability? Right now, it's just a lot of talk."
If Barbara can't see the writing on the wall by now, she will be a candidate without a party. This stupid leftist is in denial as to why the President won the election.
Freeper analysis requested.
Casey would probably be the toughest since he's won statewide and has the family name. Hoeffel and Hafer strike me as the typical freedom grabbing uppity suburban democrats.
I lived through these people for quite a while...
Joe Hoeffel represented the district next to mine. The Hoeffel District is in suburban Philadelphia and contains quite a bit of the old main line. If Hoeffel couldn't beat Specter, I rather doubt he'll be able to get Santorum. Rick still has pretty good connections in Western PA as I see it. Hoeffel was one of the most liberal members of the House. Definitely an uppity elitist type.
Barbara Hafer was a onetime GOP treasurer. I guess you could describe her as a once-democrat-then-republican-now democrat. She was angry that the state GOP chose Conservative State Attorney General Mike Fisher over her, so she sold out Fisher and jumped on the Ed "Fast Eddie" Rendell bandwagon. She then resumed being a democrat and cozied up to Rendell. I imagine her bait-and-switch tactic will cost her next election day. A lot of people were hacked off about it at the time, and that's around the time I scrammed town. Hafer was never a reliable Republican.
Hafer was the only Republican I didn't vote for in 2000...............which is why I am posting this thread.
Well, I'm sure Ricky's defense of Snarlin Arlen will win him much love and affection from the voters in the general election. Wish Toomey would run against him in the primary.
I know what they are Dan; I suppose what I'm looking for is Freeper feelings towards Casey Jr. From what I understand, his father bucked the Democrat Party here in PA......the son seems maverick in that respect also.
To be blunt, I'm PO'ed at Santorum. Supporting Spector was shameful at the very least in my book. Spector is a gun grabbing pro-abortion liberal. I wonder if Santorum hasn't become too comfortable in the old boys club.
I vote on ideas, not parties.
So what I have in front of me is a man who supported a total liberal vs a Democrat who is pro-life, and anti-gun control.
Right.
I'd vote for Bob Casey Jr. If he beats Santorum it would be bad news for the Republican party, but good news for pro-lifers.
Might be good news for America..........perhaps the dimwits over there would realize that the Michael Moore/ Barbara Streisand wing of the Democrat Party is passe.
....as I've said before, I think having multiple parties is a good thing............keeps a check on the other, keeps 'em honest.
By the same token, nobody ever said that the other party has to be an America hating, traitorous den of Communist vipers.
The letter did not answer my questions that I sent via the Senator's website. In fact, the letter I received today is very similar to a response I received from the Senator 2 years ago.
Oh, and stapled to my letter is a letter for another constituent that someone goofed up and sent to me. I bet the other constituent is wondering what happened to his response. I'll be in touch tomorrow!
MoodyBlu
His father stunk! But, he'll win Philly and Pittsburgh, so will probably take the state, like SKerry did.
Most people love America, and to hear the endless parade of Hollywood bigshots and nihilistic musicians parroting the Democrat line isn't the prescription for what ails this country, and deep down inside people know it.
I believe that there will continue to be at least a two party system, but there's nothing written in stone that says it has to be democrat and Republican.
One possibility is that the rat party is seized and dragged back to the center by the centrists, and the current leftist communist scum branch off into a Green Party or a Socialist party or something like that. I don't really see this happening though, because the radicals seem to be firmly in control, and it seems the more they lose the more they consolidate their power.
Another possibility is that the democrat party as we know it goes away as so many people desert to come to the Republican Party. This is the option you are concerned about. However, the liberalization of the Republican Party has been proceeding for some time now, and Conservatives are becoming restive... very restive. If this continues, I see a splitting off of a "Nationalist" or Conservative party. Yes, I know Michael Savage is pushing for a Nationalist Party, but that may kill the idea, not help it.
Still, either way if we keep voting as conservatively as possible the country will be dragged to the right one way or another.
Ichabod, I wonder if what we'll witness is the Somaliaization of the Democrat Party;..........that is, a few 'warlords' holding sway of some inner urban strongholds, but degenerating to a point where they won't hold sway on the national stage. Given the fractious nature of that party I see it as a possibility. A syndicate of brazenly corrupt officials ruling over pockets here and there. (I think of the Democrat Philadelphia political machine as an example)
However, the liberalization of the Republican Party has been proceeding for some time now, and Conservatives are becoming restive... very restive.
I am in total agreement here. I feel restive at times.
It'd be kind of fun to watch Santorum have to crawl to Toomey and the Club for Growth for help in a close race. If breaking judicial filibusters wasn't such an important issue right now I'd support Casey without thinking twice.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.