Posted on 08/14/2005 11:32:16 AM PDT by CarlEOlsoniii
ASPINWALL, Pa. — Sen. Rick Santorum (search) is a rising Republican star Democrats desperately want to take down in 2006.
State treasurer Robert Casey Jr., (search) his likely Democratic opponent, is ahead in state polls. He's quietly raising millions for what is expected to be the closest Senate race in 2006.
Casey, like Santorum, opposes abortion, and he has name recognition from his late father, Gov. Robert P. Casey. He was recruited to run by national party leaders seeking to take out a Republican Party leader.
"This is going to be a race that's going to be viewed as a national referendum. This is a nationalized Senate race," said David Thornburgh, executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League, Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Santorum, a conservative from Pennsylvania who is chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, is promoting his new book, "It Takes a Family." An energetic and tenacious politician, in recent weeks he has earned the ire of liberals for comments in his book, which criticizes feminism for instilling in women that it is more gratifying to work outside the home than stay home with children. It also compares abortion (search) to slavery.
The book is ranked 13th on the New York Times bestseller list, and has sold more than 40,000 copies, according to the publisher, ISI Books.
Democrats accused him of flip-flopping recently when he said he had no intention of running for president in 2008; then, two days later, he said he was going to leave open the possibility.
He was criticized for meeting with Terri Schiavo's parents in Florida before her death. And, in a rare attack on the Senate floor, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy lashed out on Santorum for a column he wrote three years ago linking Boston's liberalism to the sex abuse scandal in its Catholic diocese.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
For us pro-Santorum people, the election is still far away and I have a feeling we will come out victorious.
I'm rooting for Santorum, too! Good luck!
Same here. Santorum is one of the most honest and up-front politicians in this nation.
Thank you. Santorum has it right (especially on that Boston thing) and despite his polarizing actions, I can not think of anyone who wants to advance the causes of conservatism more than Sen. Santorum.
Same, same, same here.
I'm in PA. One of the biggest problems we're going to have is all the resentment PA conservs have against Santorum for backing Specter, not Toomey. I frankly agree with his choice, which was borne out of loyalty and strategy. Toomey, I believe, would have lost in the general election. He's a great conservative, but an unimpressive campaigner, and not in the least telegenic.
And the liberal media, which dominates here, would have raked him over the coals.
Yes he is. Wish there were more like him!
Fortunately for Santorum, (1) Casey, Jr. has all the charisma of a wet sock. (2) Rendell will be on the ballot as will (probably) Lynn Swann.
I disagree with a number of your points but not your sentiment. First, despite the high-fiving replies that will follow your post, conservatives in PA are not going to cut off their noses to spite their faces. And if Swann runs a good race, they won't stay home and deny themselves the possibility of rejecting Rendell. Maybe if a credible conservative were running 3rd party, you might make this case, but I don't see it. Second, I don't believe Toomey would have lost. It's amazing how Hoeffel (rhymes with awful) disappeared totally. Now maybe Specter's name recognition buried him, but I think Toomey would have stood a very good chance.
I agree. Rendell has earned no kudos as governor, and there are a number of Philly dems who would back Swann.
well, we'll never know on Toomey. And I didn't say conservs would stay home...i was suggesting that the resentment of Santorum is great now, among many. As for Swann...hey, he has to get past the primary, and I believe another governor's son (is it his son) is running on the Repub side: Scranton.
Yeah, the announced candidates are Piccola, Scranton and Swann. Piccola is a vet but very very low name recog. and Scranton ran for the office 20 years ago. Swann is the only one who could beat Rendell and, of course, has potential for higher office which makes that race a real national concern.
Like many who come to this web site, I sent my campaign contributions to North Dakota in the last election although I'm not a resident.
I'm not a resident of Pennsylvania either, but it looks like my campaign contributions will go there for the next election.
Is there another one (campaign) more important?
If his message is that women working outside the home has been damaging to the institution of family -- then the facts of the matter certainly bear him out. In fact it is hard to see where there would be any controversy on the subject.
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.