WILKES-BARRE TIMES-LEADER: – When Bob Casey of Scranton crushed incumbent GOP Sen. Rick Santorum in 2006 with 59 percent of the vote, it was the first time in more than four decades that a Keystone State Democrat won a full term in the U.S. Senate.
Now, as Casey begins to gear up for his re-election bid, some independent analysts are wondering if 2012 will represent another easy campaign for the freshman senator with the famous Pennsylvania political name.
Casey, the son of the former two-term governor, starts off the campaign season in better shape politically than several other Democrats also elected in 2006 who are now facing tough re-election fights, such as Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, said Jennifer Duffy, the Senate analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report… (more)
Another poll-created, horse race “story” without substance. The “news” of why Casey has approval numbers of just under 50% might make a good story but you would have to dig to get voter reasons.
A Junior US Senator is not a good position to be a “star”. The Senate structure and tradition works against that. Still, the “carpet bagger” senator from NY, Hillary Clinton, worked very hard in her first Senate term and won over a strong majority of her constituents.
Has Casey worked as hard? Has he solidified his position in PA over the past 4.5 years? Has he attempted to?
Also, regarding the poll, is it based on all Pennsylvanians? All likely voters in PA? All who voted in 2008?
How strong is he (or weak) with the Democratic base in PA? Has he blazed any new trail for other Pro-Life Democrats? Are there any “causes” or particular issues he is getting known for supporting of fighting against? What is the record on what he has done for Pennsylvania?
I am much more comfortable with Bob Casey in Washington than Rick Santorum or Pat Toomey but there is a war going on and I would really like to know what contributions Casey is making to Pennsylvania a better state and the US a better nation?