Hoeffel, Rooney considering 2006 Senate challenge to Santorum

[Freddie Stubbs]

LARA JAKES JORDAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The list of potential challengers to Republican Sen. Rick Santorum's re-election grew Wednesday as Democratic Rep. Joe Hoeffel and Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney both said they were considering the 2006 run.

Hoeffel, who was soundly defeated in his Senate challenge to Republican Arlen Specter this year, said he is "keeping my options open about the race against Santorum in '06" but that he currently has "no definite plans."

Rooney, a state lawmaker, said he is "giving it some consideration" after being approached by people urging him to run but that "my foremost responsibility is to the party."

Hoeffel gave up his three-term U.S. House seat to challenge Pennsylvania's senior senator, Republican Arlen Specter, this year. Specter easily prevailed over Hoeffel, 53 percent to 42 percent.

more: http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/10369066.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[JI7]

1. i think Hoeffel should try again

[napi21]

2. Is Rooney a relative of Art Rooney? The name sure has a LOT of

recognition in Pa. I thought Hoeffel would have done better against Specter, so if he lost to him, maybe he's not the best one to defeat Santorum.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. I do not believe so

He is the nephew of Fred Rooney, who represented the Lehigh Valley in Congress for 14 years (60's and 70's).

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. Is Chris Heinz a possibility for reclaiming his father's Senate seat?

n/t

[Daisey Mae]

6. I love that thought......

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

7. Thanks. I'm in PA and called the PA Dem party to suggest. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. He may have a better shot

at knocking off Melissa Hart.

[warrens]

5. Winning campaign poster

Rick Santorum: Fighting for Virginia

Plaster that baby all over the state and watch him squirm. Oh, and regularly ask for the $100K he ripped off from the taxpayers back. And photoshop him and his family fondling the foetus.

[TheDonkey]

8. We need some major star power to unseat Santorum, lets look further

Hoeffel was beat badly and I would rather not face that type of defeat again. A Chris Heinz could give some star power, or Casey Jr.

[tsuki]

9. Don't let the education and residency scandal die. Keep it in front of

the public. We once let the such things die down. Now, at least in this county, we keep mentioning it every so often. Sounds cruel, but voters do forget, and here, if you bring it up at election time, everyone says it's just lies and political BS.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

10. Doing my part in Allegheny County to keep it alive. n/t