Posted on 03/04/2005 9:57:56 AM PST by pittsburgh gop guy
Casey enters U.S. Senate race; Hafer withdraws Friday, March 04, 2005
By Maeve Reston, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. announced today that he would challenge U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum for his seat in 2006, likely setting up one of the most closely watched races in the country next year.
And clearing the way for Casey, state Auditor General Barbara Hafer today announced she would pull out of the race just days after she announced her candidacy.
Casey, a Democrat who opposes abortion rights, has long been eyed by the Democratic leadership as a formidable challenger for Santorum, who is the No. 3 Republican leader in the Senate. Prominent Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York pressured Casey to run and met with him in Washington last month.
Even at this early stage, a Feb. 16 poll from Quinnipiac University suggested a close contest between Casey and Santorum, a leader among conservative Republicans. The poll found that Casey led Santorum 46 to 41 percent. About 52 percent of the people polled said they approved of the job Santorum was doing in the Senate and 31 percent disapproved.
One potential trouble spot for Santorum was that independent voters said they favored Casey 49 to 32 percent.
Casey had held off an announcement for several weeks. Some Democrats said they believed party officials were trying to avoid a primary fight that could siphon off considerable amount of money from the general election race.
Hafer took care of that, at least for now, when she announced her withdrawal today.
Shortly after noon today, she said she made the decision after consulting with Gov. Ed Rendell.
"The governor has asked me to step aside and allow Treasurer Casey to run unopposed for U.S. Senate," Hafer said in a statement. "After some consideration, I have decided to agree to the governor's request."
Hafer and Casey differ on abortion rights.
Hafer ran unsuccessfully against Casey's father in his 1990 re-election as Pennsylvania governor when she was still a Republican.
In the Quinnipiac poll, Santorum led Hafer 47 to 39 percent.
In a Casey-Santorum match-up, Social Security is likely to be one of the key issues. Santorum, in his capacity as the chairman of the Senate's Republican Conference, has taken a leading role in pushing President Bush's controversial plan to let workers partially replace traditional Social Security with personal investment accounts.
Announcing his decision today, Casey took a hard line against the President's plan, stating that if he were elected he would "fight to protect and strengthen Social Security and will oppose any privatization plan that cuts benefits, requires massive borrowing from foreign countries or does nothing to improve the solvency of the Social Security system."
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More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Now is the time for all good conservatives to come to the aid of Santorum. Get over the toomey stuff - NOW!
ANd if you think Bob Casey jr. is better, you are a whack-job!
Hafer quote about getting in the race yesterday: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05062/465468.stm
While Casey and Hafer have talked privately about avoiding a primary fight, Hafer didn't wait for Casey's public announcement.
"We're in it," she said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm getting a campaign up and running."
Now let's see how our fair weather religious right deals with this.
It's gonna be interesting.
The path has been cleared by Dem bigs for Casey. Casey makes Ron Klink look bright. The only thing casey has is his name. He really is not that bright - watching him speak in public can be painful.
The EMILY'S list crowd and NOW will have a cow. Rightfully so. Hafer switched to Dems because she said woman are not welcome in the GOP (ever hear of Melissa Hart, great GOP Congresswoman from Pitt). Now, Babs is a dem, and is forced by the bigdems and Rendell to withdrawal from the Senate race before it even got going. ANd to let Casey jr. run no less! That has gotta sting babs!
I'd be surprised if PA social liberals gave Casey a free ride in the RAT primary. Even with Hafer not running, I'm sure Emily's List and the NARAL people will find some other pro-abortionist to challenge him.
As for the general election, Santorum will have a tougher time against Casey than against Hafer or Hoeffel, but he'll still win. That Q Poll is bogus: Nobody can believe that Santorum could have such a high approval rating and be down so much against Casey.
I said this on the other thread.
I agree.
I have Murray and Cantwell. A stolen Governor's race. I am NOT sympathetic to a group reacting childishly to Santorum not endorsing their candidate. I supported Toomey from afar. I didn't like the decision to support Specter. But if they don't fight for Santorum they don't deserve a conservative.
Get over it. Penn is a possible future swing state and losing a conservative Senator is NOT the way to advance conservatism in the state.
This is true. He gave limited debates when he ran for his original position, and when he did he was a total idiot. I hope we can all put down our grievances with Santorum and back him in 2006.
If Casey debates Santorum, Rick should mop the floor with him. BUT - then Rick will be painted as the bad guy and bully.
I know that Casey campaigned A LOT in PA with John Kerry last year - anyone have a pic of Casey/Kerry?
A lot will be made that the dems are reaching out to pro-life and conservative voters, and Casey will be "Exhibit A". Anyone that thinks Casey is conservative is a fool!
Let's see if he sells out his pro-life position to get the backing of soccermums in Philly metro - or if he just relies on his "HEY - I'm a friend of Rendell" to get their votes....
"I hope we can all put down our grievances with Santorum and back him in 2006."
"Franks was knocked off by a different Dem (Maloney) in '94."
"Conservatives need to pull together and support Rick Santorum's reelection."
1000% AGREE!
And RIGHT NOW!!!!
We need to get people that voted for Casey (any of 'em) in the past to realize how bad he is.
I have Murray and Cantwell. A stolen Governor's race. I am NOT sympathetic to a group reacting childishly to Santorum not endorsing their candidate. I supported Toomey from afar. I didn't like the decision to support Specter. But if they don't fight for Santorum they don't deserve a conservative.
Get over it. Penn is a possible future swing state and losing a conservative Senator is NOT the way to advance conservatism in the state."
I agree 100%. The conservatives who won't back Santorum are the same buttholes who voted for Perot "out of principle" and in effect helped put The Impeached One in the WH.
It's called "cutting your nose off to spite your face".
Thank you.
I understand the disappointment with supporting Spectre. I'm not certain Toomey could have won in a presidential year, but clearly this felt like a betrayal from a "friendly corner". But losing a strong conservative doesn't advance conservatism. I'd rather keep santorum and lose Hagel.
Hillary isn't going to run in '96? Ooops! I thought it said Heifer. My bad!
Bummer. I was hoping Hafer was gonna run. She might well have won the primary, and Santorum woulda smashed her face.
I'm a Washingtgon State Conservative too, and I agree 100%.
I'd be happy to have Specter in comparison to Murray, let alone Santorum, who's a great senator.
It's sad but I'd prefer Spectre over Murray as well.
I don't think folks should setle for someone like Spectre by any means, they should be strongly challenged in primaries. But when you live under all Democrat rule it's hard to understand those that are so spoiled by having conservative representation (slight as it is) that they would advocate losing a real conservative out of spite.
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