Dear Mr. Casey-

Matt

Check out Santorum’s new ad against Casey below. It’s clever and I fear that Casey isn’t going to fire back with any real chutzpah.

BOB CASEY VS. RADICAL RICK SANTORUM

Sunday September 3, 2006

Find out what time Meet The Press airs in your neck of the woods.

Go BOB!

Below are the dates for numerous Senate debates on NBC’s Meet the Press. Tune in, y’all!

via First Read:

September 3:
Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) and Bob Casey (D)

September 13:
Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) vs. Jim Webb (D)

October 1:
Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine (R) vs. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D)

October 8:
Missouri Sen. Jim Talent (R) vs. Claire McCaskill (D)

October 15:
Minnesota candidates Amy Klobuchar (D) and Mark Kennedy (R)

October 29:
Maryland Senate nominees (still TBD)

“Stop Smiling, Start Fighting”

If I could look Bob Casey in the eye right now, I’d simply say:

“Come on dude, don’t screw this up.”

If you’ve been following my commentary on this race then you know how frustrated I’ve been with Casey’s candidacy. Instead of flying out of the gates and calling Radical Rick Santorum what he is– an out of touch, fanatical wing nut who does not represent the people of Pennsylvania– Casey has opted instead for a more cordial approach.

I am sure there’s polling data that shows how Pennsylvania voters want to talk about “issues” and not play dirty politics. However, I’m sure there are people within the Casey camp who want a more hard-lined stance on Radical Rick’s extremist positions and statements. However, they are not being heard and this campaign, instead, is running itself into the ground.

Please please please Mr. Casey- you must win this race. For the sake of this country, you must win. Your current approach is not working. If you want to unseat Radical Rick, you must puff out your chest and begin running the kind of campaign that can topple a seasoned politician who doesn’t deserve another term in the Senate.

The polls are tightening with the latest Quinnipiac Poll showing Santorum making gains in the race against Casey. The race now stands at 48- 42 in favor of Casey.

From Quinnipiac:

“Casey still has the advantage as long as Santorum’s job approval is mixed and his favorability rating remains in negative territory. But three in 10 likely voters say they don’t know enough about Casey to form an opinion, and the key to the election may well be how those voters will swing once they get to know him. Santorum gets no help from President Bush, whose approval rating remains near record lows,” Richards added.

Pennsylvania registered voters give Santorum a split 42 – 44 percent approval rating, compared to a negative 38 – 45 percent score June 21, the incumbent’s lowest approval rating ever. He gets a negative 34 – 40 percent favorability rating among likely voters, with 17 percent mixed and 9 percent who haven’t heard enough to form an opinion.

This is not just a lefty rant. This is politics. This race is slipping away from us and it’s time to start fighting back. No more poll tested mumble jumble, Mr. Casey. Get out there, fight, and tell the voters in Pennsylvania that Radical Rick doesn’t deserve to represent them in the United States Senate.

If you’re out there and feeling frustrated by Bob Casey’s timid campaign for the United States Senate in Pennsylvania then you are not alone. Day after day Casey continues to run a “conventional” campaign against an unconventional opponent and the polls are narrowing as a result.

Dan Savage, the sex columnist turned anti-Santorum activist, recently donated a $2,100 check to the Casey campaign to help the challenger close the nearly 2 to 1 gap between campaigns in terms of fundraising so far. Here’s the thing, SAVAGE’S CHECK WAS RETURNED BY THE CAMPAIGN!

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

The Seattle-based syndicated sex columnist who minted a raunchy definition of “Santorum” and assembled a Web site to share it with all the world tried channeling his distaste for Pennsylvania’s junior senator with a $2,100 contribution to Casey’s campaign.

But six weeks after receiving a thank-you call from a Casey staffer and an invite to his Seattle fund-raiser, Savage learned this week that his money wasn’t necessarily welcomed.

Not directly, at least.

Casey’s finance director called Savage on Tuesday to say thanks, but no thanks. The “higher ups” in the campaign decided that the contribution could cause Casey more trouble than it was worth, Savage said he was told. Savage said it was then suggested that he donate the check to an organization working for Santorum’s defeat.

“That way, Casey could benefit from my money without having to, you know, associate himself with the likes of me,” Savage wrote on his blog. “Huh.”

Savage is of course famous for coining a new definition of “Santorum.”

Now I know that DoubleSpeak is a family show, but it’s critical to note that Dan Savage (not to be confused with Fred or Ben Savage) played a pivotal role in beginning the anti-Santorum movement. Maybe it’s a bit vulgar, but it’s true, and I think Casey could benefit from calling a spade a spade.

Casey, take the money. Keep it. Use it to tell the voters of Pennsylvania that Radical Rick Santorum is a nut ball and far outside the mainstream in America. Go, do it now!

UPDATE (4:30 PM ET): Dan has decided to send the money to Philadelphians Against Santorum.

Robert P. Casey, the man vying to defeat Radical Rick Santorum (R-PA) this fall is leading in the polls 50% to 40%. This information comes from a new Strategic Vision poll that was released today.

As a side note, last night while driving to a concert in Northern Virginia, I found myself eye-to-eye with Radical Rick Santorum in traffic on I-66 W. He was driving himself in a beige SUV with a Rick Santorum sticker. I knew it was him, because really…who else in America would actually promote the candidacy of Radical Rick, besides Radical Rick? He is one scary looking radical airhead.

New polls released this morning show Senate nominee Robert Casey Jr. (D) and Governor Ed Rendell (D) in good shape against their respective rivals in 2006.

From Political Wire:

In the Pennsylvania governor’s race, Gov. Ed Rendell (D) now leads Lynn Swann (R) 50% to 36%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.

Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) now trails Bob Casey (D) by 15 points, 52% to 37%, in his re-election bid, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.

It’s early, people. Gov. Rendell will sail to victory, but Casey is going to have to fight for every single vote. I was up in Philadelphia this weekend and I saw a BOAT-load of Santorum bio ads on TV. I didn’t see any Casey ads. Yes, there is a strategy playing out here, but I can assure you that in order for Casey to maintain this lead and prevail in November, he’s going to have to be aggressive.

I spent a lot of time talking to family, neighbors and friends and they have yet to hear from Bob Casey. In fact, some people even said they don’t know what he looks or sounds like.

Bob, please…get out there, play hardball with these guys. Democrats, Independents and Republicans really want to vote against Radical Rick, but you need to be stronger. You need to lead. You need to show Pennsylvanians that when they tear down the Santorum wall, the Casey wall will be stronger and more in touch with PA morals and values. Santorum is out of the mainstream, but if you keep a low profile, you’ll lose. It’s that easy. You cannot count on Rendell delivering this election for you. Get out there. Meet the people, go on TV, spend your money and for heavens sake, please win!

Radical Rick Santorum (R-PA) is out of his element. In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Santorum said:

We have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, chemical weapons.

Think Progress did a great job of refuting Santorum’s wacky comments.

RAW STORY has more…

2004: Bush Responds to WMD Report

The chief weapons inspector, Charles Duelfer, has now issued a comprehensive report that confirms the earlier conclusion of David Kay that Iraq did not have the weapons that our intelligence believed were there.

A new Quinnipiac poll released today shows Democratic Senate nominee Bob Casey Jr. gaining more ground against Radical Rick Santorum (R-PA). Casey is above 50% in the poll and leads the radical Senator by 18%.

Pennsylvania voters give Democratic State Treasurer Robert Casey Jr. a 52 - 34 percent lead over incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, with 12 percent undecided, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to a 49 - 36 percent Casey lead in a May 11 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University.

In this latest survey, Republicans back Sen. Santorum 68 - 20 percent, while Democrats back Casey 80 - 9 percent and independent voters back the Democrat 54 - 30 percent. Men back Casey 51 - 40 percent and women back him 54 - 28 percent. Their mind is made up, 67 percent of voters say.

Republicans who say they are conservative back Santorum 76 - 14 percent while Republicans who say they are liberal or moderate back Santorum 54 - 30 percent.

Among Casey supporters, 44 percent say their vote is mainly against Santorum.

“Sen. Santorum appears to be his own worst enemy in his battle for re-election. More than 40 percent of those who say they will vote for Democrat Bob Casey say they are really voting against Santorum. And less than 40 percent of all voters say Santorum deserves to be reelected,” said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“The Senator is going to need a spectacular debate performance and a powerful advertising campaign if he does not want to become part of the anti-Bush, anti-Republican backlash,” Richards added.

Pennsylvania voters give Santorum a negative 38 - 45 percent approval rating, the incumbent’s lowest approval rating ever and down slightly from 41 - 44 percent May 11. By a 45-37 percent margin, Pennsylvania voters say Santorum does not deserve to be reelected.

This is good news for Bob Casey. However, as DoubleSpeak has warned, this race is FAR from over. Casey needs to be aggressive and needs to speak to the people of Pennsylvania. Santorum will stop at nothing to win this election. He’ll say whatever he has to say and he’ll lie lie lie to defeat Casey.