Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Robert P. Casey Jr. received the endorsement yesterday of a former rival, Barbara Hafer, who had briefly considered challenging him for the party's nomination.

In a letter e-mailed to Casey supporters, Hafer, the former state treasurer, touted Casey as the party's best chance for defeating Republican Sen. Rick Santorum in the 2006 race.

Hafer said the differences between her and Casey - she favors abortion rights, he does not - don't "tell the whole story." She hailed Casey's work on issues important to women, children and "those less fortunate," saying "there could not be a greater contrast with Rick Santorum," who also opposes abortion.

The other Democratic candidate, Chuck Pennacchio, who supports abortion rights, disputed Hafer's statement that Casey offered a stark contrast...

By Carrie Budoff, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jun 8, 2005

Hafer's backing of Casey bothers some abortion-rights Democrats

Bob Casey Jr.'s campaign distributed a letter Tuesday from Barbara Hafer urging Democrat activists to ''stand united'' to defeat U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.

The endorsement letter was e-mailed to 35,000 party activists and included a subtle appeal to those concerned about Casey's opposition to abortion.

''A great deal has been made of the issues where Bob Casey and I don't see eye to eye,'' wrote Hafer, who supports abortion rights. ''But that doesn't tell the whole story.''

Hafer bowed out of the race in March under pressure from Democratic leaders trying to clear the primary field for Casey, the state treasurer, son of a former governor and Pennsylvania's top vote-getter last November.

Along with the pedigree, Democratic leaders calculated that Casey would boost the party's appeal with socially conservative voters by taking the abortion issue off the table against Santorum, who's also anti-abortion.

But Hafer's decision to sit out the race riled staunch abortion-rights supporters, some of whom urged her to reconsider.

Hafer, Casey's predecessor in the treasurer's office, said in her letter that stepping aside was a difficult decision that was ''made easier knowing that I'd be helping a good man.''

She praised Casey's previous work as a state auditor in holding government accountable and fighting to speed the response to nursing home complaints. She also chided Santorum for supporting President Bush on tax cuts and reduction of guaranteed Social Security benefits.

Hafer didn't use the word ''abortion'' or defend Casey's position directly. Instead, she stressed that Casey ''is acutely aware of the pain that a lack of access to family planning can cause to women and families — it's why he supports public funding of these services and contraceptive equity in health insurance coverage.''

''In fact, on issue after issue of concern to women and families, Bob Casey has stood with us,'' she said. ''Democrats are fortunate to have people like Bob in our party…and we're fortunate he's running.''

Chuck Pennacchio, a Bucks County history professor seeking the Democratic nomination, said Hafer's endorsement glosses over many issues where Casey agrees with Santorum and Bush, including their opposition to expanded embryonic stem cell research.

''In my judgment, Hafer has elevated politics over principle,'' Pennacchio said.

Santorum's campaign said the letter demonstrated that Casey is having trouble persuading Democrats who support abortion rights to get behind him...

Jay Reiff, Casey's campaign manager, acknowledged that some Democrats who strongly support abortion rights might have preferred Hafer. But he said the party's ultimate goal is to back the best candidate to defeat Santorum in November 2006.

''And Barbara Hafer made it clear in her letter that Bob Casey is the best candidate,'' Reiff said.

By Jeff Miller, The Morning Call, Jun 8, 2005

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