If the Republicans are to re-capture the U.S. Senate in November, they will have to take some seats in blue states. One of the most intriguing pick-up opportunities is in Pennsylvania, where incumbent Democrat Sen. Bob Casey finds himself in a tough fight with a tough man: farmer and businessman Tom Smith.
Tom Smith grew up on a dairy farm in western Pennsylvania’s Armstrong County. Dairy farmers get out of bed long before dawn and often work well past sundown. Smith took over the family dairy when he was just 19 years old and his father passed away. While keeping that business thriving, he set about in 1989 to get into the coal-mining business. By the time he sold off his coal interests in 2010, his companies employed more than 100 people.
This hard-working, close-to-the-earth background is one that Smith intends to take to Washington. He has traveled the Keystone State from west to east – he was on a campaign bus between events when I interviewed him – and turned a 20-point deficit in the polls into a true toss-up as Election Day nears. Quinnipiac says that as of October 16 Casey leads by just three points, which is within the margin of error. Smith says his campaign’s internal polls show his race and the presidential race tightening, and that Pennsylvania is very much in play. Those same polls show that Romney has a very good chance of being the first Republican presidential candidate since 1988 to capture Pennsylvania’s electoral votes.
Added to the polls and the positive trends, Bob Casey’s record, says Smith, will haunt him.
“Casey votes with Obama 95% of the time,” Smith said. “He voted for the stimulus, he voted for ObamaCare, it just goes on and on. Casey’s is a voting record that is going to be very hard to defend to the people of Pennsylvania.”
Smith also noted that Casey has contributed to the lack of leadership in the U.S. Senate over the past few years. “I brought forth a plan” for the economy “several weeks ago; my opponent has never come forward with a plan.” That, says Smith, is a symptom of a larger problem with Sen. Casey. “The U.S. Senate under Democrat control has not even passed a budget in over three years. The people of Pennsylvania are not happy about that. It’s not only not voting on a budget, it’s not even coming forward with any plans.”
Smith touted his plans, available on his campaign web site, that begin with simplifying the tax code, ending out-of-control federal spending, ending “oppressive regulation that suffocates growth and kills jobs,” exploiting more domestic energy sources, and reforming health care and Social Security. His health care reform plan includes allowing interstate insurance competition and tort reform while decreasing mandates and increasing personal health care choices.
“People are concerned bordering on fear for the future for their children and grandchildren,” says Smith, on the state of the economy. “People’s big concern is the economy and jobs. Deficit spending and national security too.” Casey’s record, or lack of any record, will be key to beating him.
Let us hope that Mr. Romney’s coattails are long and strong.
And also let us not make the same mistake we made during the tenure of Congressman Newt Gingrich…
The TEA Party will be watching!
The biggest problem Tom Smith faces is the “boobgeois” who make up a huge voting block in the three large urban areas of the state. The rest of the state leans conservative.
I can’t decide whether Romney will be dragging Smith up on his coattails in Pennsylvania, or visa versa. Either way, I’ll take it!
And btw, here in Delaware County (suburban Philadelphia) I have seen a gaggle of Romney/Ryan lawn signs and only ONE for Obama.
Tom Smith needs to hit Casey hard on being the first high-profile PA supporter of Dear Leader in 2008.
Even though Hilary won the state’s 2008 primary, Casey’s endorsement was a huge shot of adrenaline for Dear Leader.
Casey hearts Obama…hit that meme long and hard…and I’d imagine there is a juicy quote or two from Casey during those endorsement days…
Casey also supported the cap & trade energy bill. He needs to go. I think he only got elected because his father was a popular governor. Casey Jr is an Obama tool, and a pretty dull one.
In Penn’a, we finally voted Arlen Specter out of office, and replaced him with Pat Toomey. (I never wanted anything bad to happen to Arlen, I just wanted him out of the Senate). I hope we can follow up by electing Tom Smith.
OK Pennsylvania ! You have your work cut out for you. Not only do you have to seal the deal for Romney but you have to elect this wonderful candidate to the senate. He is really getting a lot of attention in the media just within the last week. I have read several glowing articles about him just this week. Knew nothing about him before. I am impressed and approve. He would make a great senator. We are trying to do our part here in Ohio as well. Get rid of Brown and send Mandel to the senate. Oh and elect Romney. All hands on deck as people need to realize that we need the senate almost as much as the White House. The cancer that is Harry Reid and his band of democrats is as bad as Obama. I would love to see Jim DeMint take over for the hapless Reid. If only those voting for Romney will just vote a straight Republican ticket
He’s a good guy.
Tom Smith at the Republican Jewish Coalition of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey
Mr. Smith is also the same Senate candidate who in late August equated having a baby out of wedlock to rape. I can’t help but wonder what it is about these old white guys running for office (Smith, Akin) who seem to think it’s still the 1950s. They call themselves “conservative,” but don’t hesitate in passing judgement on other citizens’ private lives.
So its another red herring to be distracted by. Big Whoop.
How will that affect his Fiscal Policy judgement?
How will that affect his Foreign Policy judgement?
How will that affect his Energy Policy judgement?
But please, go ahead, keep being distracted by that. I’m sure CVS and Rite-Aid will be pulling all the Condoms off the shelves RIGHT NOW if you dont vote against him.
Jersey Shore will be cancelled too.
Yup, and Hollywood will be censored IMMEDIATELY after the election, so you better hurry up.
Meanwhile, you can ignore that Debt Clock and the eroding Constitution.
Being creeped out by a “white guy” with the same social mores as our grand parents is a bigger threat to the nation, I suppose.
How do you know what the mores of my grandparents were? If Smith was to keep his eyes just on fiscal policies, and stay out of decisions regarding citizens’ personal & private lives, then he could be a viable candidate. One the other hand, it’s good to know now what his total agenda would be if he gets elected; same for Akin.
Guess you don’t spend much time tracking the religious right do you? If you did, you’d have a bigger reason to be concerned about our “eroding Constitution.” Suggest that you read Article VI and the 1st Amendment again. And just for the record, I’ve never watched Jersey Shore.
You should investigate the spousal abuse charges that were lodged against Claire McCaskill’s current husband from a previous marriage. Makes you wonder why a woman would hookup with someone with that type of background. Now that’s something that needs to be investigated as well as several shady business dealings that have come to light. They are adults, but when it comes to my tax dollars and policies (such as Obamacare being jammed down my throat), I want to know every scrap of information about these career politicians.
Tom Smith is a humble and hard-working man who earned his way thru his brawn and business acumen. He is the antithesis of a politician. He began as a farmer, worked several years as a union-coal mine equipment operator, and then took a chance and started his own highly successful coal company. His wife taught school for 40 years and they have 7 children, 4 of whom were adopted by Mr. & Mrs. Smith. He was a Reagan-Democrat until he saw what the leftists did to that party. Bobby Casey (Senator Zero) is joined at the hip to Obama and must be sweating bullets as he hears Tom Smith’s big diesel coming after him. As a resident of PA, I would be proud to have him as my US Senator.
Tom Smith also supports a balanced budget amendment and term limits, plus the idea that Congresspeople should not get paid unless they do the jobs for which they are paid and pass a budget. His ad laying those things out was the most effective Tom Smith ad I’ve seen.
That said, in term of geography, PA is mostly red–but whither go Philly and Pittsburgh, whither goes the commonwealth. I would echo the sentiment above that I’m hardly seeing ANY Obama stuff this year in Philly, but we can’t get complacent just because the Dems choose not to advertise. Some of these people have been taught to actively fear Republicans. I’ve seen some Republican GOTV efforts (someone came to my house this morning, actually), but I’m still nervous.
I am a Dem and will be voting SMITH and ROMNEY RYAN. WE NEED TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK! All my neighbors are Dems..(except one) and they all have Romney signs in their yards. I think PA will turn RED.
Tom Smith has actually out-performed Romney in most of the polls this year. If Romney can at least keep it close, Tom Smith will win.
Casey’s not even using the “War on Women” slogan (although Smith has said some things that could be taken out of context). His ads are focused on trying to scare seniors. Tom Smith has ads running with his mother to refute Casey’s ads.
I voted for Sam Rohrer in the primaries (I also voted for Rohrer in the Governor primary in 2010), but Tom Smith has convinced me I voted for the wrong candidate. I never thought any Republican would do such a good job of taking down the pseudo-moderate.