::.Angus Reid Consultants.:: Casey Keeps BIG Lead Over Santorum in Pennsylvania

::.Angus Reid Consultants.::: "November 18, 2005
Casey Keeps Lead Over Santorum in Pennsylvania

(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Democrat Bob Casey could win next year’s election to the United States Senate in Pennsylvania, according to a poll by Strategic Vision. 51 per cent of respondents in the Keystone State would support Casey in a head-to-head contest against Republican incumbent Rick Santorum.

Casey has been Pennsylvania’s state treasurer since January 2005, and previously served as the state auditor general for eight years. Casey is the son of former Pennsylvania governor Robert P. Casey, and lost the 2002 Democratic primary to current governor Ed Rendell.

Support for Santorum is at 36 per cent. Three per cent of respondents would vote for other contenders, and 10 per cent are undecided. The election is scheduled for November 2006.

Santorum was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994, and earned a second term in 2000, defeating Democrat Ron Klink with 53 per cent of all cast ballots. He had previously served for two consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.

Although the election is still a year away, it is widely expected to be among the most competitive senatorial races in the country. Speaking in a joint public appearance this week, Santorum asked voters to focus on his experience, saying, "I’m probably known most by the work I do in Washington on the big issues of the day, and I’m criticized sometimes for taking on the big issues of the day like Social Security."

Polling Data

If the election for United States Senate were held today, and the choice was between Bob Casey, Jr., the Democrat and Rick Santorum, the Republican, whom would you vote for?

Nov. 2005
Oct. 2005
Sept. 2005

Bob Casey, Jr. (D)
51%
52%
52%

Rick Santorum (R)
36%
36%
38%

Other
3%
2%
3%

Undecided
10%
10%
7%

Source: Strategic Vision
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,200 registered Pennsylvania voters, conducted from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent."