Other challenges to Bob Casey's nomination don't seem to have much momentum,
but this one might:
Kate Michelman, a prominent abortion-rights advocate, said yesterday that she was giving "some thought" to running as an independent in the race for a Pennsylvania seat in the U.S. Senate. . .
Casey, 45, upset some in his party earlier this year when he came out in support of Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court.
Casey's position prompted "maybe seven or 10 calls" from women's-rights activists and Democratic donors, asking her to consider running, said Michelman, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America from 1985 to 2004. She would not provide names.
"It is more about them wanting to express great frustration," said Michelman, who splits her time between Washington and Central Pennsylvania, where she owns a house with her husband. Top national party leaders sold Casey as someone who "will be with the Democrats in opposition to anyone who threatens, or possibly threatens, Roe v. Wade. When he endorsed Alito, that turned that on its head."
In a written statement, the Casey campaign said: "Democrats are stronger when we work together on the many issues where we have common ground, and Bob Casey looks forward to doing that in the U.S. Senate."
You can read a WaPo profile of Michelman
via this link. It's not clear whether Michelman would run a primary challenge (2000 signatures due on Tuesday) or, as the end of the article hints, as an independent by filing later this year.
I'm undecided about whether I'd favor a primary challenge at this point, but I think an third party challenge would be a disaster, guaranteeing Santorum's reelection in a three-way field. Frustration's one thing, but shooting yourself in the face is something else.