Poll gives Casey 14-point lead over Santorum

[TommyO]

HARRISBURG, Pa. | -- Democrat Robert P. Casey Jr. holds a 14-percentage-point lead over Republican Sen. Rick Santorum in the 2006 campaign for Santorum's seat, according to an independent poll released Wednesday.

Casey, Pennsylvania's state treasurer and son of the late governor, was favored by 49 percent of the respondents in the Quinnipiac University poll, compared to 35 percent for the second-term incumbent. Thirteen percent were undecided.

The widening of Casey's lead, from 46-41 percent in a Quinnipiac survey in February, comes on the heels of Santorum's high-profile advocacy of two controversial causes -- President Bush's Social Security overhaul plan and congressional intervention in the Terry Schiavo case.

Casey has stayed largely out of the public eye since announcing on March 4 that he planned to take on Santorum. His announcement came at the urging of national Democratic leaders and after two prospective opponents for the nomination stepped aside. He still faces opposition from Chuck Pennacchio, a college professor who has not run for office before.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-senatepoll0420,0,6816891.story


All I can say is, what's good here in Pennsylvania, will be very good for the country come 2006. I find it incredibly heartening that even though he hasn't been very public, Casey's support is growing, and Santorum's is waning fast.

[still_one]

1. don't trust polls

in addition 2006 is so far away, and a tremendous amount of crap can happen

the repug machinary has a lot of deceit up its sleeve

[frictionlessO]

3. True but its a big number lead, much harder to hide with shenanigans

Let us have a wee bit of hope. hehe
:-)

[LynneSin]

18. I think the polls are pretty trustworthy in this case - here's why:

First Bob Casey Jr. has major name recognition across the state and I think Pennsylvanians are starting to recognize that their senator isn't really representing the best interests of PA but instead the best interests of Bill Frist & Tom Delay (and oh, that he's not even a RESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA!!!)

Also, I feel that PA is actually pretty well protected against troubles in the voting area. The secretary of state has already decertified electronic voting machines because of unreliablity and this time we are dealing with an Secretary of State who is on our side. He'll make sure it's a fair election. Repukes tried to cause problems out in Pittsburgh with hassling votes (Philadelphia was swamped with lawyers camping out at all the polling places in their city); however, Kerry still managed to win.

This will be a great victory for us if we can get Santorum out of house. I have some reservations about Casey's anti-choice stance (but he does support excepts); however, in the long run I think casey will still be 1110% better than Santorum and a good senator for the democratic party!

[frictionlessO]

34. Thanks for the better than hopeful situational awareness!!!

You just made me very very happy!

[rkc3]

44. Santorum has just started his campaign.

In the local press he announced the Air Force is considering the closing of the 911th Air Refueling base in Pittsburgh.

He's committed to keeping it open. My guess is that the base is not on the list, but when the time comes for other base closures he'll claim credit for keeping it open.

Even if the base is closed, the election is 18 months away and most of us will have forgotten about it.

[frictionlessO]

2. You are right ot be heartend... this kind of lead building in such a short

period of time says less about Casey and much much more about Santorum. Hopefully Casey doesn't eat feet very often and can maintain this gift of a lead.


For those that dont know our top 3 targets are:
Santorum
DeLay
Frist

These are powerful pieces of shit that are each highly responsible for the current Amerika we live in. Each very powerful in their own ways. It'd be a coup to get rid of one, now it looks like two might be going down. Anyone have numbers on Frist??

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Frist is retiring from the senate.

Of course, that means he think he can run for President. He's a chooch.

[underpants]

8. Frist is a suit. Delay runs the whole Hill

I'm just saying

[frictionlessO]

20. Ahh but Frist is also a very very loud and effective mouthpiece.

They love touting his doctorness combined with his anti-choice stance.
They love touting his "reasoned scientific based" background yet still being a fundie.
They love his toeing the party line no matter how he may perjure himself in the face of most of the medical profession (video diagnosis)...

He's powerful of his own right independent from Delay.

But yeah, DeLay was power broker in chief. Too much heat for him to be that way right now, so who is filling his shoes???

[Straight Shooter]

25. He is an effective mouthpiece but he is also "Mr. Anti-Charisma"

What a shame it wasn't Frist running against Kerry. It would be like Peter Lorre running against John Wayne.

edit to add: I don't think * has charisma, either, but then my brain isn't ruled by reptilian urges.

[frictionlessO]

35. Yep, tell me about it.... the lieing lizard lovers! n/t

[apnu]

38. Mouth peice? Like this?

OR

[Toots]

10. Frist is retiring??

That is news. I don't understand why they would elect someone to be their leader who didn't plan on staying around. I will never figure out Republican Logic. :crazy:

[bunkerbuster1]

12. We'll have some fun with Frist's voting record, won't we?

The same kind of "fun" the reThugs had with Kerry's.

y'know, I learned that Kerry "voted FOR partial birth abortion SIX TIMES" from radio attack ad, back in October last year.

Yeah, it'll be a complete distortion of the man's Senate voting history. And that'll be tough shit. Sauce for goose, sauce for the gander, oh Fristed one.

[JohnnyBoots]

14. Ads talking about him experimenting on kittens, which is true is

a good way to paint him as the nutcase he is. How do you defend something like that????

[frictionlessO]

17. Especially since he'd have to use "in the interest of science" as his

defense. Ya know how his base hates the sciences!

[JohnnyBoots]

21. They should do an ad with a kitten and a feeding tube

[Straight Shooter]

26. Isn't it true that a Senator has never won election to president?

Governors win, not Senators. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[bunkerbuster1]

28. Fellas named Kennedy

and Nixon come to mind.

That said, it's become harder for Senators 'cause, you know, they have to think hard about national issues and take stands, as opposed to hillbilly governors who just sit on their ass and gladhand.

[DarthDem]

37. Not Nixon

Nixon was never a senator. The last U.S. Senator elected president other than Kennedy was, I believe, Warren G. Harding. It's not a good idea to run senators, as we just learned.

[bunkerbuster1]

40. Nixon was a Senator, though not for long

Elected in 1950, served about two years (although I imagine he missed a lot of votes in 1952 while campaigning with Ike.)

see also
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000116

Let's not forget former senator George HW Bush, either.

[frictionlessO]

16. Oops dammitall I knew that.... d'oy!

It'd be nice to have them all gone. Who are they thinking might replace him?? Start targeting those possibilties as well IMO.

Thank ya Tanda!

[michaelhopewell]

5. Casey

will get he blue collar vote.

[LynneSin]

19. Actually Dean pointed out some other really important races

Florida Governor - because the governor appoints the Secretary of State

Ohio Secretary of State - well, we know that reason why.

The third race was Santorum, but I think because he was speaking to a crowd of democrats in Philadelphia he was just trying to get us all really really excited!

[frictionlessO]

23. And did he get you really really excited?? lol! Love Dean!

Though Santorum is important because PA is very important. I think he was saying what he felt, what a great feeling being on the frontlines for the next two cycles, eh??

I didnt know he was focusing on OH SoS, that pleases me no end!!

[LynneSin]

24. I think after 2000/2004 he wants democrats in those positions

which in Florida is appointed by the governor.

So yes, those 2 positions are very important in 2006

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. No, PA really is a priority

It is one of the few blue states with a Republican Senator up for reelection next year. And unlike the other ones (Snowe, Chafee), he is not a moderate.

[gasperc]

6. Hopefully, Casey won't be stupid and play it safe

we can hope and pray that Casey and his team understand how devious Santorum is and he WILL raise and spend whatever it takes to be re-elected. Don't be surprised if the SWVT don't get a call.

This is a priority hold for the GOP and our #1 target. About all this poll is good for is to help Casey raise money that he will desperately need.

So again, I hope Casey won't be mealy mouthed about the democratic position but stand firm instead of being fearful of falling in the polls.

[TommyO]

9. Some things Casey needs to do:

Remind Pennsylvanians how out-of-step Santorum is on both Social Security and personal medical/end-of-life decisions.

Remind Pennsylvanians that Santorum's primary residence is in Virginia, the same thing he used against his predecessor. Can you spell hypocrisy?

[LatePeriduct]

11. Santorum is a lying slime of a man.

He lives in Arlington Virginia actually and attends the prayer breakfast all the time.

He is an upstanding member of the cult, and pretends to live in Pennsylvania. Every effort should just be to smear his name and show his dispicable acts, while playing up Casey as someone who actually lives in Pennsylvania and does Social Security.

[bunkerbuster1]

13. Santorum's scammed PA $100K to edjumacate his 7 kids

even though they don't actually live in PA.

[LynneSin]

22. Casey's biggest issue will be with far-left democrats...

..because Casey is anti-choice (although with exceptions for rape, incest and health of mother). To be honest, the biggest thing that could hurt Casey is if a strong 3rd party candidate gets in there and draws votes away from the hard-core left. Don't kid yourself, Casey isn't a moderate and definately not a DLC member - just a catholic wrestling with his faith.

But in 2004 Casey broke the record for most votes received statewide for a candidate of any party. He had more votes than John Kerry (who won the state) and Arlen Spector. And Casey got those votes despite having a republican candidate. People know who Casey is and Unions love him. He doesn't have any skeletons in his closet and unlike Santorum, Casey actually lives in Pennsylvania

[Merlin]

39. More Cowbell! Yes! To accompany the Cham-Pag-Nee.

love the allusion

:bounce:

Sanctorectum's going down (pray God!)

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. Woof woof, Man-On-Dog

Dare we dream Santorum is a damaged brand after his absurd and surreal Social Security - ahem - dog-and-pony show?

[malachi]

15. Quiz. Which way did Man-on-Dog vote on the following 3 issues

last week? It's not hard. MOD is a lovely individual always voting with the best interests of the people of PA in mind.

Veterans' care. Senators refused, 54-46, to add $1.98 billion for veterans' health care to a bill (HR 1268) providing $77 billion this fiscal year for ongoing military actions. More than half of the increase was intended for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The overall bill remained in debate.

Death benefit. Senators voted, 75-25, to keep a measure raising the military death benefit from $12,420 to $100,000 and applying it to all deaths during active duty, not just those from combat. The higher figure was added to HR 1268

Guantanamo prison. Senators refused, 71-27, to delete $36 million earmarked in HR 1268 (above) for building a large military prison at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, naval base.

Answers:http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/11412841.htm

[nodictators]

27. Rick likes chants

Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho
Santorum's Gotta Go!

[UCLA Dem]

29. keep it up!! eom.

[urizenxvii]

30. all right!

keep it going!

[jefferson_dem]

31. Best news i've heard all day! Sans-scrtotum's going down (pun indended).

:woohoo:

[Doctor_J]

32. How much PA voting is done on Diebold or other GOP-made machines?

This will trump any poll numbers.

[EFerrari]

33. My first thought, too. n/t

[frictionlessO]

36. No BBV in PA, I believe... another post on this thread says something

to that effect.

I know they have at least been battling out the electronic machines.

Take heart this a very very good thing!

[CatWoman]

41. Poll: Casey Leads Santorum by 14 Points

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Senate-Poll.html?

Filed at 1:11 p.m. ET

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Democratic state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., who hopes to challenge Republican Sen. Rick Santorum next year, increased his lead to 14 points in a poll released Wednesday.

Casey, the son of a former governor, was favored in the Quinnipiac University poll, taken amid Santorum's high-profile push of President Bush's Social Security overhaul plan and his backing of the recent congressional intervention in the Terri Schiavo case.

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Casey was favored by 49 percent of respondents in the telephone poll, conducted April 13 to Monday. Thirty-five percent supported Santorum, while 13 percent were undecided.

A poll in February showed Casey was favored by 46 percent of respondents to 41 percent for Santorum.

[Freddie Stubbs]

42. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1408113