Victorious Casey Sets Sights on Santorum

PHILADELPHIA — Political veteran Bob Casey, the heavy favorite, easily won the Democratic senatorial nomination in Pennsylvania on Tuesday to challenge conservative Republican Sen. Rick Santorum in the fall.

An effort by Pennsylvania voters to oust lawmakers over a big pay raise also scored at least two victories as both of the state Senate’s top Republicans were defeated. The pay hikes were passed in the middle of the night last year, then repealed by legislators under public pressure.

In Oregon, Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski soundly defeated two rivals for the nomination for another term. An Iraq war veteran won a Democratic nomination for Congress in Pennsylvania, while another Iraq veteran was defeated in a congressional primary in Kentucky.

The 46-year-old Casey, son of the late Gov. Robert P. Casey, now serves as Pennsylvania treasurer. He was courted by national Democratic Party leaders to take on Santorum, the Senate’s No. 3 Republican and a close ally of President Bush. The race could cost a combined $50 million.

Santorum, seeking a third term, was unopposed in the GOP primary.

Casey cruised past two political newcomers in the Democratic primary, pension lawyer Alan Sandals and college professor Chuck Pennacchio, both of Philadelphia.

Santorum renewed his challenge for Casey to engage in debates and taunted him in the opening moments of the general election campaign.

“Come out from behind the name and stand before the voters of Pennsylvania and talk about the issues important to the people of this state,” Santorum said.

Casey issued a statement from Scranton, where he was monitoring the vote from his home, saying his nomination reflected Democratic unity.

“Tonight voters from across the state overwhelmingly showed President Bush, Rick Santorum and the whole ‘wrong direction’ gang in Washington that the values that unite us as Democrats are stronger than anything that might divide us,” the statement said.

Lynn Swann, a former Pittsburgh Steeler making his debut in Pennsylvania politics, won the Republican nomination for governor without opposition. The former NFL star will face Gov. Ed Rendell, who ran unopposed on the Democratic side.