Please Do

Rick Santoum faces some stiff competition for his sentae seat. That race may just become easier for him:

PHILADELPHIA - A prominent abortion-rights activist, Kate Michelman, said this week she is considering running as an independent in the race for the seat held by Sen. Rick Santorum.

Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican, and his leading Democratic opponent, State Treasurer Bob Casey, have both said they are opposed to abortion. Casey upset some Democrats when he said he supported the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Michelman, the past president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, splits her time between Washington and central Pennsylvania. She said some women's rights activists have asked her to run.

The Democrats in Pennsylvania are based mostly in Philly, Pittsburgh and the surrounding suburbs. This is a significant bloc of hardcore Donk support. With no alternative, these folks would've held their noses and voted for Casey just so any Donk could capture the seat.

Now with a pro-abortion candidate potentially in the race, pro-abortion voters will side with Michelman thus taking votes from Casey. Call it the Nader effect for lack of a better term.