Of all the "endangered" Republican incumbent Senators, Rick Santorum is the one we can least afford to lose. Oddly enough, he is also the only one being opposed by an empty suit (cleverly labeled, "Bob Casey, Jr." by its handlers).

He shouldn't have been surprised when Junior failed to show up for half the scheduled debates, and failed to answer questions directly at those he did attend: after all, Casey never made 50% attendance at his current or former public office. In fact, the best thing about the possibility of Casey in the Senate is that he probably wouldn't show up there, either.

But the race is far from over, and Santorum is known as a fast closer. Today, he ventures into "new media" as a guest blogger over at Captain's Quarters:

As I told Pittsburgh-area radio host Fred Honsberger today, "bizarre" is a good word to describe our campaign for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania this year. I've never been involved in a campaign like this one where someone felt so entitled to winning an office simply because they have a famous last name. And that someone I refer to is Bob Casey, Jr.

He's running a cookie-cutter campaign, repeating the same canned phrases time and again. His latest talker -- calling me desperate. My response: it's not desperation, it's exasperation. My opponent, Bob Casey, Jr. is trying to make this entire campaign a referendum on Rick Santorum and the Bush Administration. He's giving the people NO reason to vote FOR him.

He's refused to engage in substantive debate. In every debate, even the moderators or panelists felt compelled to point out that he avoided giving a straight answer to their questions. It's been like pulling teeth to get him to respond to questions. And in almost all cases, he didn't answer them all together.

It can be exasperating. But I have a lot of faith in the people of Pennsylvania, and those across this country who have been so supportive.

Read the whole post at the link above. Santorum makes his case rather well.

I understand that Senator Santorum isn't terribly popular in Pennslyvania, even if I don't quite understand why, but surely Pennsylvanian voters don't wish to embarass themselves just to show displeasure, do they?

I mean, if they wanted to elect a sock puppet, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog would have made a far better choice than Casey the Idiot-Boy.