The race tightens (Santorum/Casey)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_467457.html

A Pittsburgh Tribune-Review poll shows Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum closing the gap against Democratic challenger Robert P. Casey Jr., in a contest many analysts see as the nation's premier Senate race.

The Keystone Poll of 551 Pennsylvania voters shows Casey, the state treasurer from Scranton, leading Santorum, of Penn Hills, by five percentage points -- 44 to 39 percent. Green Party nominee Carl Romanelli, a former Luzerne County family court officer, garnered 4 percent, and 13 percent of respondents were undecided.

The poll, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points, was conducted over five days beginning last week and ending Monday.

"Santorum is sort of scratching and clawing his way" into contention, said G. Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster County, who conducted the poll for the Trib and several other news media outlets. In November, Casey led Santorum by 51 to 35 percent.

"It's still probably the premier race, because Santorum is the number-three Republican in the Senate and he's a national figure," said Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report in Washington, D.C. But Rothenberg does not consider it one of the two or three most competitive Senate contests and still calls it a "Democrat-leaning" race.

This is Scaife Rag, but the poll was also done for WTAE-4 TV Pittsburgh and several other PA newspapers.

[saltpoint]

1. There's going to be a lot more activity and heat after Labor Day.

I think Casey holds on and whips Man-on-Dog in November.

[Purveyor]

4. Yep. The last thing people are thinking about now are politics.

Last flings of the summer, kids back to school are the dominate issues of the day.

A month from today, start paying attention to the polling data.

[...of J.Temperance]

2. I think Bob Casey Jr. will still win

I think he'll win by between 4% and 8%. It's imperative that we remove Rick Santorum, the man has some serious issues imho, he's also a disgusting individual with his incredibly offensive comments regarding gays....I hope Pennsylvania gets some sense and gives him the boot.

[babylonsister]

3. So what do you think of Allen vs. Webb, since you (might) live closer

than I do?

[saltpoint]

5. babylonsister! Hi! Nice to see ya. I was a little worried about Webb

until this past week, and Cement-Head Allen seems to have really stepped in it with his racial insults to Mr. Sidarth.

What a dumbbunny Allen is.

People must be saying to themselves, "Jeez, this Allen guy isn't really presidential material. Maybe we'll go with Jim Webb for Senate, too."

And I hope that happens.

There's still a lot of Republicans in Virginia who need to come over to Webb, but I'm hopeful. I think Webb can do it.

____

I hope all's well your way, babylonsister.

[babylonsister]

6. All is well here, my friend!

And it's good to see you! :hug:

Tweety asked Howard Dean about Webb tonight, knowing Allen really blew it. I think the
thought right now is to get the most money to the most viable candidate. Webb might now qualify, but
he wasn't viable before this. That's what I don't understand. Why?

[saltpoint]

9. Good question. How some of these Republicans ever got elected

is beyond me.

Sessions. Coburn. Inhofe.

My god, they're all kind of pathetic, aren't they.

A lot of people are working hard for Webb. It could happen. I just don't know how to get around that core group of Neanderthals who vote straight Republican ticket all the time.

A depressed GOP turn-out and a really strong push for Webb could make it happen, though.

[babylonsister]

19. But what about Webb? He's the guy who might be viable.

Will Dems foot the bill now?
I know it's dog eat dog, and they're (we are!) fighting for everything.

[saltpoint]

26. I am reading that in the Senate races, the Democrats are actually

outpacing the oil-sucking, Bush-kissing Republicans this time.

And that's great news.

Schumer is not every person' favorite Senator, but he's no wallflower when it comes to politickin'. I want him in the front lines where he is, raising dough and fighting for a blue November.

Agree on Webb -- he's viable and I am keen on his winning against Cement-Head in Virginia.

[...of J.Temperance]

8. Alas, George Allen's racist comment MIGHT help George Allen

On the surface some people are expressing outrage....but behind the secrecy of the ballot booth, they can quietly vote for someone who makes openly racist comments.

[saltpoint]

10. I can see some voters who would. I'd like to think they have all

been sterilized and are not permitted to operate motor vehicles on the nation's highways.

I'm hoping for a strong Kaine-like showing for Webb.

Can't help but root for Webb against Allen.

[...of J.Temperance]

15. I support James Webb

I'd give pretty much ANYTHING for him to defeat George Allen, I've always considered Allen a slimeball.

Webb would need a very big showing in Northern Virginia and in the Fairfax region, that's how Governor Kaine did it....I hope Kaine will do some heavy stumping for Webb, I also hope Mark Warner will do some heavy stumping for Webb as well.

The two Senators I want removed the most are Allen and Santorum.

[saltpoint]

27. Yes. A glorious evening it will be when the networks call the respective

races in Virginia and Pennsylvania for Democrats instead of Allen and Santorum.

Virginia's going to be close, but I feel pretty good about Ricky Santorum being turned out of office by the arrogant clueless way he behaves most of the time.

Go, Dems.

[...of J.Temperance]

7. Unfortunately, I think that George Allen will be re-elected

I would like James Webb to remove Allen, but I can't see that occuring :(

We need to keep a sharp eye on Allen, because if he is re-elected, I think he very well might be the GOP 2008 Presidential nominee. Another fake cowboy, another fake "Southerner", another George Jr who's ran on his Daddy's name (George Allen Sr. was the coach of the Washington Redskins)another politician who's dumber than a box of hammers....looks like a fatter Howdy Doody....the media will market him just like W, the fundies adore him....and the public once again can be easily hoodwinked into voting for him.

[w4rma]

12. I predict the opposite. Casey will lose and Webb will win.

Webb has the positive momentum. Casey has the negative momentum. I predict that Casey will lose by an amount less than the amount the Green gets.

Btw, I live here in Virginia. People aren't particularly enamored with George Allen here. His support is wide and shallow.

This isn't set in stone, however. Casey still has a couple of months to quell his loss of voters. But he needs to stop just doing what the DLC tells him to do. I get the feeling that Casey has been running a so-called "safe" race while taking some positions that the DLC says is popular but is only popular with the hardcore Republicans.

[...of J.Temperance]

16. Casey had better NOT lose

I couldn't handle more Santorum babbling.

[gauguin57]

11. Santorum idiots were screaming during our Rendell rally Wed. eve

Gov. Rendell came to RED Lancaster County, PA, for a Democratic rally -- he was great! But the stupid-ass Santorum and Lynn Swann supporters ran up to a balcony above the rally, put out their banners and screamed and blew airhorns while Rendell was trying to speak.

The cops finally told them to quit being disruptive.

They left very quickly. I smell DESPERATION!

Demo. Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray looked up at the pathetic goopers and said, "what do those signs say ... Swann song for Santorum?"

[sandnsea]

13. All the polls suddenly pulled close

If this ain't a steaming pile. So sick of the manipulations, I don't believe any of this poll shit anymore.

[rodeodance]

18. yes, many are closing the gap. gives me the shivers.

[darkism]

14. Close enough to steal. How convenient!

What's the voting situation there in PA?

[Dogmudgeon]

17. Of course it will be closer

The Press will make Santorum look as good as possible while undercutting Casey at every turn. there will also be extensive coverage of the "Astroturf Green" who is running. The Press loves close elections and "Man Bites Dog" irony -- and we can see how it backfired in 2000.

I used to think that Santorum was a goner, but now that the Press is playing this as an Americanized Greek drama, it's up in the air. They're also promoting Lynn Swann for PA governor, but Rendell is too popular and Swann is too ... outclassed.

In the long run, though, the Democrats should own politics from about 2010 until 2050. The Republican/ Conservative/ Libertarian/ Authoritarian axis has pushed the luck too hard, too far, and too dirty; when the ideological and Culture War backbone cracks, the collapse will be total.

But we're still not quite there. In the words of eminent philosopher Tennessee Tuxedo, "Come along, Chumley, there's work to be done!"

--p!

[regnaD kciN]

20. This doesn't match the latest poll results...

A new poll on the Pennsylvania Senate race conducted by Benson Strategy Group (D) shows Casey leading Santorum 51%-37%. It was conducted August 13-16, included 821 likely voters, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4%. At the same time, Casey is finally getting off his front porch, and launching a statewide advertising campaign. Santorum has been on television since June 23rd, which largely explains why he has moved closer in most polls (though still trails). If this new poll is confirmed by independent polls, then, if successful, this new ad campaign has the very real potential of finishing Santorum off.

More here (halfway down the page).

[Ragin1]

21. Casey hasn't

run his adds yet. Santorum has hit the airwaves quite a bit the last month or so. Casey is going to pound Santorum as long as he stays on message.

[Quakerfriend]

23. That one seems more realistic to me, being from Philly.

[TheWatcher]

22. If you don't think the Republicans are not going to try and steal

these races you are living in a fantasy land.

I do not say that to be confrontational, it is merely a reflection of the reality we currently find ourselves in.

This country is being run by a Crime Family and it's Captains.

There is no rule of law for these people. There are no checks and balances.

They stole 2000, 2002, and 2004.

It is true that with things being the way they are, it would be foolish to believe the people would buy a Super Majority for the Republicans after all that has happened.

Do you think they care? Do you think they are not arrogant enough, insane enough, criminal enough to try it anyway?

The way I see it as thus:

Either Diebold steals everything, or we get a Terrorist Attack or a National Emergency and Martial Law so that they can seize power that way. Perhaps a new war. Anything to hold onto power.

We need to realize these Monsters are going to go for EVERYTHING now. They have gone too far to stop. They couldn't stop now even if they wanted to. It's too late.

They either take everything, or someone, something, somewhere, somehow, is going to develop a spine, a conscience, a grudge, and they are going down.

You are seeing what should be obvious to you.

The outcome has likely already been decided.

The question is what are WE going to do about it?

We should look to Mexico and the Ukraine for our answers.

Don't want to believe it? Tough. They care not about your suspension of disbelief. We are nothing but a means to an end for them.

They will only succeed if we let them.

[Quakerfriend]

24. Yes, exactly. And, we should all be reminded that Santorum

called for a federal ban on any/all recounts immediately after the 04 election.

[PCIntern]

25. Casey's ads start today...

BTW...his campaign HQ is in my building. I ran into two kids from the office, and said to them: "You want a piece of advice from soemone who's been around the block a few times here in PA?"

They said, "Sure."

I replied, "Don't fuck this up. Don't fumble the ball and kick it through the back of the end zone."

The looks on their faces were priceless. It's the last thing they expected from a greyed-out dentist with magnifying loupes on his head...

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