Casey lead (over Santorum) narrows

[flowomo]

Casey's lead over Santorum narrows
Thursday, August 24, 2006
BY BRETT LIEBERMAN
Of Our Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race continues to tighten, as a new Patriot-News/WGAL Keystone Poll shows Democrat Robert P. Casey's once wide-advantage over U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., is down to 5 percentage points.

Yet several pollsters and analysts see little momentum for Santorum in the Keystone Poll, which shows Casey leading 44 percent to 39 percent, or other recent polls that have buoyed Republicans facing a tough political environment because of the Iraq war and President Bush's low approval ratings.

The poll shows Republican Lynn Swann has done little to close the gap in the gubernatorial election. Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell leads Swann 53 percent to 34 percent.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1156386329315170.xml&coll=1

[AndyA]

1. Do not believe the polls, and ignore the man behind the curtain!

There is no way the gap between Casey and Santorum is narrowing. What would cause this? Santorum is as big a dipstick as he ever was, and people are indicating they want change. Plus, people in Santorum's area are really pissed off about the schooling issue with Santorum's kids. The few people I know in the area are downright IRATE about it.

Remember the pre-election polls were all wrong back in 1994 as well.

[sugapablo]

15. What would cause this?

Well Rick's been plastering the airwaves (at least here in Pittsburgh) with ads. Casey hasn't.

That can easily bump one up in the polls.

Rick even has an ad, where at the end , he makes an attempt at humor, having an old lady on a polka dance floor tell him "Thank you, but MOVE IT OR LOSE IT!".

I can think of three TV ads he's been airing recently off the top of my head. One for energy/muslim countries, one for protecting children, and one for seniors and soc. sec..

[stepnw1f]

2. Are People in PA That Stupid or Extreme?

How can such a disgusting evil charlatan even get on the ballot!!?

[flowomo]

3. what a silly question....

they've already elected and re-elected him. What more proof do you want?

[Pab Sungenis]

5. The gap is narrowing

because the "moderates" in our Party, who know all, gave us a right wing religious nut as our candidate.

Then Santorum bankrolled a Green candidate, who is siphoning the Democratic base away from the nut.

Pure and simple.

[life long demo]

17. Yes, some People in Pennsylvania are stupid

I live in PA. There are people who only listen to the political ads. Santorum has been plastering the airwaves with ads. How he is saving SS for the elderly (yeah, right). How is protecting children. How he is protecting our borders. There are people who didn't follow what he has done in the senate, so they think he is fighting for them. Besides that here in the Montgomery Co. area, haven't seen 1 ad by Casey yet. And yes, it is disgusting.

[Kagemusha]

4. You people just forgot that the GOP got a Green on the ballot?

It's no mystery that lead's shrunk.

[Buzz Clik]

7. And did you forget that Santorum is the most repugnant man in DC?

How the hell could anything but a thoroughly incompetent and misdirected campaign keep from mopping the floor with Santorum?

Better figure out why Casey is slipping and fix it. Bitching about the Greens won't get it done.

[skipos]

8. GREEN= Getting Republicans Elected Every November. nt

[VegasWolf]

9. Well, given some of these pro-life, pro-war, pro-big religion "Democrats"

I personally don't find it surprising that people are voting alternative parties. I certainly would never vote for a pro-war candidate like Lieberman.

[waiting for hope]

6. Lynn Swann got the death kiss not

to long ago - no surprise there. Still, I can't believe all the polls out there, seriously, I know that we slam a few polls here and there.

[liberal N proud]

10. They are doing it folks - Making the polls look close enough

So that when the election is stolen no one can point to polls that are so far apart and say WTF

These bastards are setting us up for another stolen election.

[AX10]

11. Voting Green will get Republicans elected.

[wisteria]

12. I am told Casey is going to start airing commercials soon to

counter the ones Santorum has been airing constantly. Santorum pulled a fast one with the Green candidate distraction and then airing his commercials almost at the same time. That said, Casey's camp was way to laid back and play by the old Democratic handbook-waiting until after Labor Day to start really campaigning. I find it frustrating that they did consider Santorum and the Repubs would consider every avenue in order to get him reelected. They need to talk with Senator Kerry. He has learned how they operate and he doesn't sit around taking things for granted anymore-he is out fighting. Casey needs to do this too. No body likes Santorun, but then nobody liked Bush in 04 either.

[corporatemedia]

13. The problem is that Democrats have not yet learned that August is.........

as important (or possibly even more important) in a high-profile election than the month of October.

The Republicans know the importance of August. Kerry was defeated in August of 2004 by swiftboaters and flip-floppers.

By mid October, most of the electorate will be turned off to the campaign due to the overwhelming number of ads that will be on TV and radio. They will simply "tune out".

Unfortunately, Casey seems have made the same mistake - saving his media dollars for "later", while Tricky Ricky ran constant ads during the summer.

In spite of this, hope is not lost.

If Casey's people can't put together some kick-ass negative ads, then they are total incompetents. There is so much ammo to use against him.

Let's hope they know how to use it.

[PittPoliSci]

14. great, now it's close enough for santorum to steal it.

fucking douchebag.

[MasonJar]

16. Whose poll? The polls have to be rather close for them to steal

the election for Santorum. Who could have expected Bush to get his job either time. He was there at the right time with the right crooks in charge.