The mood bordered on irate ... over breakfast yesterday. Robert P. Casey Jr. was one reason.
Three months after state and national Democratic leaders anointed the Pennsylvania treasurer as the party's pick to challenge
GOP U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a key demographic of the party base remains frustrated, angry and feeling betrayed by leaders.
They believe the party's principles ... are being sacrificed to win the seat that Santorum has held since 1995.
"People are very upset that the Democratic Party is doing this, is abandoning women," said Kim Gandy, president
of the National Organization of Women.
Support from Democrats' traditional liberal base as well as moderate Republicans will be critical for
Casey.
Casey has strong support from traditional supporters such as labor unions, but women's and abortion-rights groups
remain uncertain. The choice they face is to stay on the sidelines or back Casey.
But Gandy, describing Casey as "a danger to our cause," promised her group would never endorse the anti-abortion candidate.
Party leaders acknowledge Casey has work to do, but say they are confident that the desire to oust the outspoken Santorum
... will outweigh other concerns.
Many women's groups held out hope that former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer would reconsider and enter the
primary.
"I know there are a lot of women who still encouraged me to run," Hafer said yesterday after she dashed
those hopes Tuesday when she endorsed Casey. Hafer, who has promised to help Casey with women's groups, said defeating
Santorum needs to be Democrats' overriding issue.
She is encouraging them to ... be united, and she's told Casey to talk up his support for issues that
appeal to women voters, including workplace, environmental and health matters.
But without a female or abortion-rights candidate in the race, some Democratic allies will be on the sidelines.
Emily's List, which supports only female candidates, has no plans to get involved. NARAL Pro-Choice America
also likely won't be involved...
Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, said the women's groups plan to
meet with Pennacchio and could support him to send party leaders a message.
She and other women's leaders said Democrats might be better off losing the race than electing Casey. "In
terms of women's lives, what difference does it make whether we have a pro-life Democrat and a pro-life Republican?" Burk
asked.
