Democrats take aim at Santorum

[Joy Anne]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13492595&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6

"When U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel ended a thundering speech Saturday by asking "Who wants to beat Rick Santorum?", it capped two days of banter at a Democratic party gathering over who will challenge the Republican senator in two years. . . .

"Names that have surfaced publicly are Hoeffel and state Treasurer Barbara Hafer, both of whom are leaving office _ Hoeffel ran unsuccessfully against Pennsylvania's other senator, Arlen Specter, and Hafer has reached the office's two-term limit. . . .

"Some Democrats wistfully mentioned the name of Robert P. Casey Jr., the state's two-term auditor general and the late governor's son who last month garnered a state record of 3.3 million votes to succeed Hafer as treasurer. . . .

"State Democratic party chairman T.J. Rooney said several more people have privately expressed interest, although he would not disclose their identities. . . ."

I posed the Who should run? question at a party of Democrats (including at least one state committeeperson) last night, and the unanimous response was Hafer. So here in the midstate, Hafer seems to be considered a done deal.

[izzie]

1. This should be interesting. Isn't he one of God's men?

And we know that must mean you are also a real American.

[Joy Anne]

3. He would have us think so

Then again, he hasn't found Virginia or Pennsylvania parochial schools to be good enough for his children.

[arcos]

2. "When U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel ended a thundering speech Saturday..."

well, sounds like Hoeffel is running again too :P

I also read somewhere on DU that Chris Heinz has been mentioned as a candidate.

[Joy Anne]

4. Hoeffel and Heinz

Hoeffel may very well run again. He ran pretty well last time, given that the AFL-CIO and various other usually Democratic-leaning groups campaigned for Specter. I met him and thought well of him, though he could have used a bit more seasoning, which no doubt he got on the campaign trail this year.

Yes, there's a lot of Heinz talk here, but apparently none that the reporter heard from the State Committee. I suspect that if Kerry were about to be sworn in, they'd be saying nothing but Heinz, if indeed the man's at all interested. I've also heard that Heinz may aim for Melissa Hart's House seat.

[murielm99]

5. It might be better for Heinz to start out with a House seat.

He could take aim at Specter later.

Specter seems weakened. His primary was tough, and the repukes are taking aim at him over his comments about litmus tests for judges. Specter might be beatable, or he might not want to run again when his term is up.

The repukes are tough on their moderates.

[chicagojoe]

6. Specter is the lesser of two evils.

Santorum is dangerously Radical Right. Plus he's an arrogant piece o' crap. Away with him!!!

[catbert836]

7. I'd love to see Santorum taken down

by anyone who would run against him. Slimeball...

[JPZenger]

8. Demo. Candidates

State Rep. T.J. Rooney of Bethlehem was quoted in today's Allentown Morning Call as saying he is considering running for the U.S. Senate. Talk about being out of your own league. He's a political hack who got elected because of his family's name (a relative was a long-time Congressman).

I believe Casey has the best chance of winning the general election. Also, I'd prefer a real democratic (even if they are pro-life) than a recently converted democrat (Hafer). I think Hoeffel proved he couldn't excite the electorate (although Santorum is much more beatable than Specter).

[Joy Anne]

14. T.J.

came to the Cumberland County Democratic spring dinner as the new head of some stir-up-the-grassroots committee or other. He came across as dynamic and impressed many people well. He's also a national committee member, and I called his office the other day to express my support for Dean (if he wants it) as DNC chair.

The state committee members I've talked to say Hafer for Senate is a done deal--she wouldn't have converted if she didn't want to run against Santorum and if she didn't believe she had the support.

[LynneSin]

9. I'm gonna say it here first, I'd rather have Santorum than Casey Jr.

I mean at least Santorum is true to his party's calling unlike Casey who is pretty much a wolf in dems clothing

[indie_jones]

10. wolves

I think Hoeffel is a wolf in dem's clothing, too. I heard him on my car radio the other day trying to sell "conservative democrats" and I nearly puked on my steering wheel. I've never liked Hoeffel ... he's more republican than democrat.

I voted for the Libertarian (Betsy) last month because I resent Arlen Specter's unwavering support of military action in Iraq. But I'd trust Specter's votes on domestic issues more than Hoeffel's.

Against Santorum ... I'll vote for anybody. He's really scary; far scarier than Specter. But you know ... the only reason Santorum made it to the Senate is because the dems kept presenting "conservative" candidates whose platforms were virtually indistinguishable from Santorum's. I hope the dems learned from their mistakes.

[LynneSin]

13. Hoeffel is moderate but pro-choice

Casey Jr. is just anti-choice. I didn't really care that much for Hoeffel as a candidate but who would want to waste all that time and effort going after Arlen Specter, who gets strong support from both sides of the tickets because he's a moderate pro-choice republican.

I haven't lived in Pennsylvania in 4 years now, but when the right candidate comes along I make the effort to drive back to my home state and campaign enthusiastically for that candidate!!! Let's hope they have a good one to run against Santorum - this should be an easy dem pick up in Pennsylvania

[mrgorth]

11. Bullshit.

[LynneSin]

12. I'm not kidding you at all

And I despise Rick Santorum. But I'm also tired of pussy-footing around with these repuke-lite democrats like Bob Casey Jr. I'm a pro-choice gal and that's what I want in my candidate. I campaigned every weekend during the 2002 governor primaries to make sure Ed Rendell was on the ticket and I would do the same if the democratic primary has a democrat and a repuke-lite democrat. Pennsylvania deserves better.

[mrgorth]

15. That's fine that pro-choice is your thing

To me, I kind of like that Casey leans towards pro-life. Does that make me repuke or repuke lite. NO! Casey may not be what you want but he's also solidly behind labor and can by no means be considered a repuke. Go ahead and call a spade a spade but not a jackhammer.

[election_2004]

16. Hafer! Hafer! Hafer!

I'm in Wisconsin, but I guarantee you that the defeat of Little Ricky is the #1 wish of progressive voters and LGBT voters all over the country, for the 2006 midterms.

It sounds like Hafer would appeal to progressives and to suburban women alike. She'd also have the unflagging support of EMILY'S List and gay rights groups.

I imagine that Specter will retire in 2010 (depending on how the GOP treats him over the next 6 years), at which point Alyson Schwarz should replace him in the Senate.

[IronLionZion]

17. I'd vote for a ham sandwich over Rick Santorum

that piece of shit just has to go...home to Virginia.

I hope we have a diverse slate of candidates to choose from in the primary. Maybe DUer Charlie Crystle will run again, or Alan Kukovich.

on edit: it looks like Charlie won't run but will likely endorse Kukovich.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

18. Ditto! nt