SANTORUM IS NOMORUM!

HERE WE GO!!!!

According to a new Morning Call/Muhlenberg poll, Governor Rendell (D-PA) is leading his opponent in the 2006 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race, 46% to 43%. In the same poll, State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. (D) is leading his opponent Radical Rick Santorum (RRR) 49% to 37%.

Rendell holds a 46 percent to 43 percent edge over Swann, a political newcomer, the statewide survey of 668 voters shows. Conducted Feb. 25 through Thursday, its results include voters who are solidly committed or just leaning toward one candidate or another. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

The same survey shows Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. with a double-digit lead over U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

In a hypothetical match-up held today, Casey would defeat Santorum 49 percent to 37 percent in one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate contests in the country. Again, those results include solid supporters and leaners.

The Morning Call has more on these critical races.

Kate Michelman, the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, says that she is giving “some thought” to running for the seat held by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., as an independent, the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting.

She is Casey’s worst nightmare: Recognizable, committed, able to raise money.

If she runs - this week she said she might - Casey’s double-digit lead over U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., evaporates.

Michelman, 63, has been on the national stage for more than 20 years as president of NARAL Pro-Choice America from 1985 to 2004.

Could this be for real? My suspicions are that Michaelman’s actually trying to drum up some publicity for her new book, “With Liberty and Justice for All: A Life Spent Protecting the Right to Choose.” Rumor has it that her book has done terribly.

Either way, this could be very bad for Democrats in 2006 and would give voters that aren’t psyched (and let’s face it, who is) about Casey a reason to make him a villain and vote against him.

Thoughts?

A new poll out today, which was conducted by The Center for Opinion Research Floyd Institute for Public Policy at Franklin & Marshall College, has the latest numbers on the PA Senate and Governors races.

Senate:

Bob Casey Jr. (D) - 50%
Senator Radical Ricky Santorum (R) - 39%

Governor:

Governor Ed Rendell (D) - 45%
Lynn Swann (R) - 42%

Take a look at this poll as it has some interesting findings. The PA Governor’s race will be close, but I think we will see Rendell’s lead grow over the coming months as the novelty of ex-football star Lynn Swann’s candidacy fades.

Bob Casey Jr. also has an uphill battle. Although the polls look good for him now, his opponent, Radical Ricky is one of the paramount campaigners in the GOP and he will do ANYTHING to win. Swift boating x 100. If you live in PA and are reading this post, get ready to work. This is a winnable race, but Casey is going to need grassroots support (much of which he will need to earn, as he continues to reach out to the more liberal voters in PA).

Check out the Casey and Rendell websites.

DoubleSpeak will be camped-out in PA leading up to the 2006 election. We will bring you reports from the field, as well as interviews with the candidates.