Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey's endorsement of Barack Obama is getting plenty of attention both in the traditional media and on the blogs. Everyone is debating how much the first term senator's endorsement helps Obama move white, working class voters in the state to his side. I think the real benefit is that the media will be talking about this all day, adding to the growing perception that the race is over and Clinton needs to step aside.Andrew Sullivan says:
Casey's another interesting one to put on the veep list. A pro-life Catholic from Pennsylvania.
I suppose Casey could help secure PA for Obama in the fall, but he also won his seat against a deeply flawed candidate in a terrible year for Republicans and was the beneficiary of nepotism to boot.
TNR's Eve Fairbanks adds:
Has there been any senatorial endorsement in this race that's really affected a primary's outcome? Senators tend not to have the kind of local support networks and political machines that mayors or governors can deploy on behalf of their choice. And in terms of Casey's star power throughout the state -- well, reviews of his first year in office in the Pennsylvania newspapers this winter tended to use words like "subdued," "low-key" (read: invisible), and "Senator who?"
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Comments
Eric, I have to take issue with the concept of nepotism being applied to Senator Casey. If that were the case could we not say the same about Clinton, Gore, Bayh, all the Kennedy kids GW Bush, etc, ad nauseum? That said, Sen Casey is from my State, and certainly he slid into the Senate because we all were so disgusted and embarrassed by Santorum. Generally he is way way too moderate for me (move left, Senator!) and he gets many emails from me when he takes the safe, center road, but this time, I am more than proud of him, bucking the PA Dem machine and the likes of Ed Rendell whose only achievements have been putting casinos all over the State and doubling the turnpike tolls without even filling the potholes.
Posted by: colleen
| March 28, 2008 10:46 PM
MY friends in PA tell me that Casey is doing one hell of a job and personally, he would be a good VP candidate. Would take PA out of play and would also help to shore up OH.
Posted by: bonncaruso
| March 30, 2008 6:41 AM
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