Two Weeks To Go -Inside Report on Casey-Santorum Race
Through a number of reliable sources, I’ve been able to secure some of the final strategy in the heated race for the U.S. Senate between Republican Rick Santorum and Democrat Bob Casey. Much of it is about geography.
Rick Santorum, trailing in the polls but promising a tight finish, will try to shore up support in the central and southwestern parts of the state where he needs his conservative base to come out and vote. Casey has made major inroads in those areas and Santorum needs to get his vote out. From all the information that I can find, it is obvious that Santorum’s lead in central and rural Pennsylvania is not what it was six years ago, perhaps a lead of a few points over Casey. That is simply not enough to win and that’s why you’ll see organizational efforts increased in those areas.
The Casey campaign, insiders tell us , will continue to focus on all areas but especially moderate suburban voters in Eastern Pa. and Allegheny County. Casey’s ads are turning more positive but he still cites Santorum’s links with the White House and he takes Santorum to task for his visit to Terry Schaivo at the nursing facility in Florida. Casey’s organizational efforts are very extensive, with most of his resources being used in Philadelphia, its suburbs and Allegheny County where Santorum admits that he is behind.
The ad wars surprise me. Santorum keeps attacking Casey for his sympathetic view on immigration reform, which is less an issue in the East than it is in the central part of the state. Casey’s ads, which were fairly tepid in the early part of the race, are now blasting Santorum for some controversial remarks he made about working mothers.
At this point in the game, TV viewers and radio listeners must be emotionally saturated with these ads. So when I saw some positive spots for both men this week, I assumed that punitive ads were going to be stopped.
I was wrong.
In the end, this race, as expected, will become a referendum. more on Santorum’s record and the Bush White House. Casey, though, through the debates, has managed to come through the grit of this campaign in good standing against a Senator with accomplished communications skills.
The real question is whether the silky smooth debater, Santorum, can survive against the Casey name and popularity, and what appears to be a populist tide against Republican incumbents.
