Santorum-Casey Race Headlines 2006, So Far

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The curtain is rising on a pitched political drama in Pennsylvania featuring the parties' brightest stars, big sums of money and two well-known candidates for Senate — who in turn are trading charges of negative campaign tactics. And it's not even 2006 yet.

More than nine months out, Sen. Rick Santorum and his likely Democratic opponent, Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr., have begun what's expected to be one of the nation's most-watched races of the midterm elections. Jabbing at each other in interviews, the two are crisscrossing the state for potluck dinners and running Internet ads as they prepare for an expected $50 million political brawl.

Santorum, No. 3 in the Senate Republican leadership lineup, is seeking a third term with a campaign that has so far has been lagging behind. Casey has the added recognition of the namesake of his father, the late popular Gov. Bob Casey.

Santorum isn't being helped much by a national Republican Party with tattered coattails. Bruised by recent scandals including the indictment of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, Republicans aim to keep a tight hold on Congress as Democrats burnish their own message, "We can do better."

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