Casey, Santorum React to Kerry Remark

  Vernon Odom, WPVI

University City - November 1, 2006 (WPVI) -- Bob Casey and Ed Rendell were on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania late Wednesday, basking in the glow of their latest poll numbers. But the Democratic candidate for Senator was hounded today about the John Kerry dust-up.

Kerry was due in Philadelphia Wednesday night to appear at a Casey fundraiser, but cancelled after his remarks made him a red meat target for Republicans in the home stretch.

Casey told reporters: "This is a guy who said he made a mistake delivering a line. He didn't make a mistake like this President did, and like Rick Santorum did, by failing to ask the tough questions about Iraq. So we should start talking about their failures on Iraq."

In Norristown Wednesday, Senator Santorum said about Kerry: "This is a guy who doesn't understand when you have men and women in uniform you have a responsibility to be there to support them. He's not doing it, and I think it's disgusting."

Senator Santorum was quick to get downright indignant as he used Kerry's gaffe to try to wound Casey: "This was not a botched joke, as my opponent said it was. Bob Casey, Junior defended him yesterday, and said, 'aw, he was just making fun.' Bob Casey doesn't understand you don't make fun of men and women who are dying."

But Casey countered: "He botched a joke, and he was honest about a mistake that he made, and I know the White House and the Republican leaders will go into overdrive, 'cause they're having trouble."

As for those poll numbers, Keystone pollster Terry Madonna says his research found that one in three Pennsylvania voters were voting for Casey simply because he's not Santorum. "The likeability quotient has gone down," Madonna told Action News, "despite the fact that there's been easily 12 million dollars spent to raise the Senator's image."

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