Santorum expected to cut Casey's big edge

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | March 6, 2006 | David M. Brown

[old and tired]

At some point the media overkill starts to really energize the Republican base.

Yup. Just about every election I think, "should I vote Constitution Party?" And then the media just won't shut up and I end up voting Republican.

[smoothsailing]

Well, I don't know where phillyfanatic lives, but if it's Philly, I guess I can forgive the pessimism.

If I lived there, I'd probably be tempted to throw in the towel.

[old and tired]

Specter has been working behind the scenes to ensure Santorum loses.

I despise Specter, and supported Toomey to the tune of several thousand dollars, and I voted third party in his race against Hoeffel, but even I don't believe Specter is working behind the scenes to defeat Santorum. Specter knows where his bread is buttered. He knows he owes Santorum.

[nickcarraway]

Groups that Specter is involved in have been waging a campaign against Santorum. I don't believe that is an accident. How does he "owe" Santorum? Santorum helped Specter last year, what does Santorum have that Specter needs now? If what you say about "owing" is true, then why did Specter come out attack Bush and Santorum the day after the election. Why were there Specter/Kerry signs all over PA?

[Coop]

I'm in VA and really don't have initimate details, but I think you're both right. Spectre will most likely campaign for Santorum, but I expect it to be half-hearted. And you'll see groups closely affiliated with him continue to go after Rick.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Spectre won the primary 51-49% over Toomey.

I really don't think Santorum's support changed anything in that regard."

---

Are you kidding????? Specter won majorities in conservative counties throughout the T and managed to eke out a 50.5%-49.5% victory against Pat Toomey, and you don't think that the campaign ads and prerecorded telephone calls cut by Senator Santorum and President Bush were crucial to his victory? Had Santorum and Bush stayed neutral, Toomey would have won by at least 5%.

[ArGee]

Would you really rather have a John Kerry Democrat in Maine instead of a Collins RINO?

You haven't properly framed the question. Would I really rather have a freshman John Kerry Democrat in Maine, who has no committe chairmanships or other power, instead of a Collins RINO? Yes. Keep in mind, also, that someone who is clearly an enemy can be taken out. If the incumbent in PA were a Democrat rather than a RINO, neither Santorum nor Bush would have had to support him/her. As it was, because of the (R) they had to endorse Specter, whether they liked it or not.

I prefer a sheep to a wolf, but I prefer a wolf to a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

We thought Rick was one of us. Turns out he's just another politician.

They all are. The Republican Revolution was supposed to turn out the Jim Wright corruption.

Meet the new boss. He's the same as the old boss.

We can't expect more - people are people. But we did hope for more.

Shalom.

[spikeytx86]

It won't be an easy fight but I hope and I think he will pull off a squeaker. I'm not happy with everything he has done but he has and will continue to be the most ardent conservative in the senate and he has my support and what disposable cash a college student has.

Go Santouram!

[battleax]

Had Santorum and Bush stayed neutral, Toomey would have won by at least 5%.
And the democrat machine would have put the seat in the dem column. Specter deserves much credit for Roberts and Alito becoming supremes. And I am not a Specter fan. I have heard him roundly booed on several occasions. No I was not a participant. For once I kept my mouth shut.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Had Santorum and Bush stayed neutral, Toomey would have won by at least 5%.

And the democrat machine would have put the seat in the dem column."

---

I disagree. I think that not only would Toomey have defeated Hoeffel in the general election, turnout would have been higher in socially conservative areas and down in Philly and its suburbs (since many of Specter's RINOs would have stayed home instead of voting for Specter and what-the-hell for Kerry as well) and it would have allowed President Bush to carry PA.

[Democratshavenobrains]

True, but freshman Senators have a way of gaining seniority over time. I'm more pessimistic than you about beating Democrats in New England once they are the incumbents. Republicans have been trying to take Kerry and Kennedy out for decades and it hasn't worked yet.

[oldtimer]

I just sent him a $100.

[trubluolyguy]

Gee I...i wonder how Santorum found himself so far behind to begin with..,hmmm

Rino support?


Many pissed off conservatives out that way?

[trubluolyguy]

But guess what, Specter was going to win regardless of Santorum's support so get over it.

---

So why did he need to get involved?

[Shery]

"Good job! I am so sick of the pouters who vow to stay home on election day. That is cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. What good will it do anyone to put the evil Pelosi and Reid in charge of the House and Senate? Nothing will get done then like extending tax cuts and continuing to confirm conservative judges. And the pouters will be the first to scream when Pelosi and Reid are blocking everything conservative from getting done. I just don't understand this mentality. I don't like some of what the Republicans are and are not getting done, but I know I'll get more of what I want from the Republicans and NOTHING I want and a lot of what I don't out of the Democrats. I refuse to be a pouter who hands power over to people I honestly believe to be satanic."

You are exactly right! Why hand the dems a win? That's worse! Stupid, in fact, because the one losing is yourself...especially for a senate seat which is 6 years long.

[Mo1]

.

[phillyfanatic]

A clinker could help Rick. There is talk of Kate Michel. the abortion radical running for the Senate. Who knows but that these two anti-Rick Candidates will split the vote and allow Rick to sneak in. BTW, Philly is so Blue that pessimism always reigns as it does when we have to support all our teams!! Since '47, I have been following and loving losing Philly teams. Naturally, I am a conservative Pub who keeps dreaming of a Pub state! LOL

[LibertarianInExile]

"The fact is, it would be incredibly bad form for Santorum to have campaigned against Specter and for a primary opponent."

The fact is, it was incredibly bad form for Santorum or the President to back either of them before the primary was over. If their ultimate aim is a stronger GOP with grassroots backing, the way to get it is not to pee on the grass. Bush and Rick took a big leak all over the conservative activists doing their best to stop Specter, and now they expect conservatives to dance for them.

Still, I would probably grudgingly vote for the backstabbing SOB, and Santorum will probably win, because I think Swann will have coattails. Plenty of people HATE Rendell. The reason Santorum might lose is people don't like him--lots more people come out to vote against politicians they hate and will compromise on people they don't like. If they have a Swann to vote for to boot, there will be an additional factor of some new voters coming to vote GOP for the first time to give it a shot across the ticket.

But I doubt many conservatives will cry if Santorum loses, no matter how many times that "Santorum's pro-life!" post keeps popping up on threads related to him.

[LibertarianInExile]

"Santorum is the #1 target of the hard left. That should be all you need to know. If the hard left hates him, he can be nothing but a friend to conservatives."

Oh, yes, the old "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" tack. I'd support Santorum but I wouldn't do it happily, and I imagine there are plenty of activists in PA that feel worse about him. However, I bet he gets elected on Swann's coattails.

But don't make that argument again, please. All that is necessary to neuter it is to find a target for both the left and right. Say, William Calley, or Ayatollah Khomeini, or Hitler.