Posted on 03/04/2005 8:56:39 PM PST by Lorianne
WASHINGTON, March 4 - In a race closely watched as a bellwether for changing attitudes toward abortion politics in the Democratic Party, Robert P. Casey Jr., Pennsylvania's Democratic state treasurer and a strong opponent of abortion, announced on Friday that he would mount a challenge next year to Rick Santorum, the No. 3 Republican in the United States Senate.
Gov. Edward G. Rendell immediately endorsed Mr. Casey, pushing from the race former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer, an abortion rights supporter who as recently as Thursday had said she planned to run in the Democratic primary.
"The governor has asked me to step aside and allow Treasurer Casey to run unopposed for U.S. Senate," Ms. Hafer said in a statement. "After some consideration, I have decided to agree to the governor's request."
Mr. Rendell's strenuous intervention underscored Democrats' concerns that a hard-fought primary would intensify divisions within the party over abortion.
Ms. Hafer, who left the Republican Party just last year, saying it had grown too conservative on social issues, had the backing of some influential organizations, most prominently Emily's List, which raises money for the political campaigns of women who support abortion rights.
Officials of Emily's List expressed dismay earlier this week that Mr. Rendell and other senior Democrats, including Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the minority leader, and Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, were urging Mr. Casey to run.
On Friday, a spokeswoman for Emily's List, Ramona Oliver, said the group would have no comment on Ms. Hafer's decision to quit the race.
He should have stayed Republican.
bump & a ping
Well, I suppose this is good news.
Either his candidacy will cause a major fight within the Democratic Party, or the Democratic Party will take a big step in the pro-life direction.
Karl Rove really, really screwed up when he backed Arlen Specter. He has succeeded in weakening Rick Santorum, who has been a staunch pro-lifer until he made that one mistake. The Democrats are beginning to understand that the voters don't like abortion very much. Why the devil didn't Rove understand it?
It became clear in the 2004 election that abortion was a loser, but it was almost as clear in 2002. Not a single candidate supported by Emily's List or NARAL won in 2002.
They have really made a fearful mess in Pennsylvania, and jeopardized the judicial appointment process as well, which is absolutely key to support for Bush and the Republicans in 2006 and 2008.
Emily's List is holding the short end of the stick, but so are the Republicans.
The pro-life PA Democratic females are surely having fits.
ping
The Democrats have recruited the strongest candidate they could find and it looks like he won't face a strong primary challenge.
As of now, Rick Santorum is the most vulnerable incumbent Senator of the election cycle.
Chaffee may be as week when it comes to re-election. But I don't care about Chaffee.
Casey is as much of an anti-abort as Gephart.
I will be campaigning for Santorum!
Once in the Senate, Casey will be yet another self-described pro-life Democrat who manages to find something wrong with every one of Bush's judicial nominees.
Don't you believe it. He doesn't say much about abortion, hid the issue on his website if at all when he was running against Fast Eddie. I looked for it. He is not an opponent of abortion, but he has the name of his father, who was genuinely anti-abortion.
Bull. Santorum will win by 5 points.
Bull. Either Nelson is in much more serious trouble.
Neither of the two Nelsons have drawn first-tier opponents.
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