The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Friday, May 25, 2001

PENNSYLVANIA

Power shift sparks Santorum speculation

By Robert B. Swift
Ottaway News Service

Will the shakeup in the U.S. Senate shake up the governor's race in Pennsylvania?

The power shift in the U.S. Senate led to speculation Thursday that U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. might take a look at running for governor next year.

Santorum is likely to come under pressure from some Republicans to consider a gubernatorial bid now that his influence in the Senate is diminished.

Santorum moved into the No. 3 leadership position as majority caucus chairman at the start of the legislative session in January. But with Democrats taking control of the Senate following the decision of Vermont Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont to become an independent, Santorum finds himself in the minority and unable to help set the chamber's agenda.

Santorum said Thursday that he plans to stay in the Senate despite the speculation to the contrary.

"The Senator reiterated he will not be a candidate for governor next year," said Santorum spokesman Robert Traynham.

Santorum, 43, a Pittsburgh area resident, was reelected to a second six-year term last fall. His name surfaced in the gubernatorial sweepstakes earlier this year, but in April Santorum gave a speech in Pittsburgh urging Republicans to give their support to state Attorney General Michael Fisher for the nomination.

Fisher, state Treasurer Barbara Hafer and former Lt. Gov. William Scranton III are seen as potential candidates for the GOP nomination to succeed Gov. Tom Ridge. On the Democratic side, state Auditor General Robert Casey Jr. and former Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell are the two contenders.

But Harrisburg-based political analysts say that Santorum will be approached to make the race by segments of the Republican party that don't want Fisher as the nominee.

"I do think that Santorum now comes back into play," says Dr. Terry Madonna, a Millersville University pollster. "My guess is he does not run."

Dr. Michael Young, a political science professor at Penn State Harrisburg, says the key to Santorum's decision may rest on how the young senator views his future in politics.

"It is all predicated on whether Santorum sees himself as a national candidate in the future," adds Young.

The governor's mansion has proven a better road to the White House in recent decades than Congress and Santorum faces fewer opportunities to get things done as a member of a minority caucus, says Young.



Back to TOP // Herald Local news // Local this day's headlines // Herald Home page



Questions/comments: online@sharon-herald.com
For info about advertising on our site or Web-site creation: advertising@sharon-herald.com
Copyright ©2001 The Sharon Herald Co. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or retransmission in any form is prohibited without our permission.

'11231