Santorum-Casey Race Headlines 2006
Friday, December 30th, 2005The Associated Press wrote this piece on the Santorum-Casey race today. This will certainly be the big one of 2006.
Santorum isn’t being helped much by a national Republican Party with tattered coattails. Bruised by recent scandals including the indictment of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, Republicans aim to keep a tight hold on Congress as Democrats burnish their own message, “We can do better.”
This is true, and probably not for just Santorum, as three years of Republican control of Congress has certainly not generated the progression of core Republican principles that people envisioned it would. Santorum, has a bigger disadvantage, however, being from a swing state where statewide elections can and do go either way.
To Democrats, Santorum presents an opportunity to take out a senior senator of the other party — just as Republican John Thune did in South Dakota last year when he upset then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. Democrats haven’t elected a Pennsylvanian to a full term in the Senate since 1962.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. It is true that if Santorum were to lose he would be the first Republican to lose a Senate race in Pennsylvania in 44 years. Additionally, our Democratic governor in PA is also up for reelection this year so that throws a twist in to the mix. It is imporant to note that the governor’s race really may not have much bearing on Santorum’s. In 2000, Pennsylvania went handily to Al Gore, but Rick Santorum also won reelection. Another problem is the disarray that has become of the Republican Committee of Montgomery County. One of the most populated counties in the state and heavily Republican, it has been losing elected offices to Democrats over the past few years due to inept leadership and infighting.
Rick Santorum is infamous for pulling off victories that demographically he shouldn’t win. This one will certainly be another nail biter for the GOP.