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Trying to Bridge Red-Blue Gap in Pennsylvania (Bob Casey, Jr for US Senate?)
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| Contributor | Stephen Yellin |
| Last Edited | Stephen Yellin Dec 27, 2004 01:13pm |
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| Category | Speculative |
| Media | Newspaper - Philadelphia Inquirer |
| News Date | Monday, December 27, 2004 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | The talk began almost immediately after Election Day: Run Democrat Bob Casey Jr. for U.S. Senate in 2006.
Casey had just won the state treasurer's job by receiving more votes than any other candidate in Pennsylvania history and sweeping socially conservative counties increasingly unkind to Democrats. Party operatives quickly saw a match in pitting Casey, an abortion and gun-control opponent, against Republican Sen. Rick Santorum.
That unexpected shift to Casey, who suffered a bruising primary defeat for governor just two years ago, stemmed not only from the size of his Nov. 2 victory, but also its scope. It illustrated that, not unlike the national party, state Democrats are chasing ways to bridge Pennsylvania's own red-blue schism.
...Attention has turned to Democrats such as Casey because he defied the trend. He won 32 out of 47 Republican counties and, to some, embodied the type of candidate the party should more readily embrace.
National Democrats, who are hungry to defeat Santorum, have taken notice.
Casey received a call Wednesday from New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, who encouraged him to run. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada did the same two weeks ago.
Casey, 44, said he is "open to any suggestion" but remains focused on finishing his second term as state auditor general and being sworn in next month as treasurer. His goal is to be governor someday, but he appears to be taking the Senate idea seriously, discussing a bid with supporters and family.
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