WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Pennsylvania Democrat State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr., may take on Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum in 2006, the Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News said Tuesday.
The newly-inaugurated Casey said over the weekend that a run for U.S. Senate might be in the cards, a contest Franklin and Marshall College's G. Terry Madonna said, "would be a race of titans" that "would have national implications."
"Santorum is the No. 1 target of national Democrats," Madonna said. There is no Republican the Democrats want to beat like they want to beat Rick Santorum."
Experts agree that Casey, who opposes abortion rights and gun control, could have difficulty winning the nomination if former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer also enters the race. The pro-abortion rights Hafer is a former Republican who changed parties, reportedly with the expectation state Democrats would hand her the '06 U.S. Senate nomination.
Casey was dismissive of the idea of challenging Santorum last fall but, sources said, has begun to reassess it for personal and political reasons.
