Casey Vs. Santorum - Will Dog Owners Dump Rick In 2006?

Will Dog Owners Dump Santorum (And PAWS) in 2006?

Rick Santorum's popularity is already waning, according to a recent poll by Strategic Vision of 1200 registered voters  in Pennsylvania, concerning voter perceptions of Republican performance in the State of Pennsylvania and in Washington, DC.

Santorum is trailing  by a margin of 14 points to Democratic contender, Bob Casey, Jr., the son of former PA governor, Robert Casey. Both candidates espouse conservative views, and Casey is clearly anti-choice, which may not win him the women's vote.

Is Rick Losing His Edge?

But my money says that Rick Santorum is more unpopular with an equally large chunk of voters - dog owners.  Santorum is the primary sponsor of the infamous PAWS bill, SB 1139 - which is supposedly an anti-puppymill bill.  Not.

My take-away of the PAWS bill, along with many in the purebred dog community - is that PAWS is nothing more than a sappy title (designed to gain support) for a bill that extends the regulatory and enforcement authority of the USDA over thousands of small Mom and Pop dog, cat, poultry, rabbit, fanciers .  But why PAWS and why now?

What's The Real Story On PAWS?

SB 1139 - PAWS - unnecessary and unwanted. But the would passage of the PAWS bill give Rick himself lots to do?  Like maybe dole out big government contracts to RFID microchip manufacturers - like those represented by industry trade orgs in his backyard ? ( maybe like the RFID microchip trade org in PA - AIM Global) ? - Could happen - since Santorum is the chair of the  USDA Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition and General Legislation, right?

Well I'd say Rick Santorum's chances of being re-elected by the those involved in the dog fancy - or any other animal fancy are pretty slim - not to mention rescue groups, shelters - and a host of other animal wefare orgs. 

Thin Slice This

So please answer my next question - will dog owners - a clear 44.9% of U.S. households - provide enough steam to unseat Santorum in 2006?  Will dog owners be the tipping point in Pennsylvania politics? That may not even be a stretch. 

Consider this  - our own  informal survey right here on DogPolitics.com says that 99% of dog owners who answed the poll say a candidate's record on dog law would influence their vote in a local or state election. 

What About Bob?

Where does Bob Casey stand on PAWS?  Where does Bob stand on property rights? Where does Bob stand on privacy rights?  Does Bob have the backing of the insurance industry?  Does Bob take money from chip manufacturers?  Is Bob dog-friendly? Does Bob even own a dog? (Someone should tell Bob he needs a new picture on Project Vote Smart, dont you think?)  An even bigger question  - is the Casey Campaign listening?

In the bid for PA's 2006 Senate race, while Santorum and Casey are chasing the union vote, the black vote, women voters, and the highly prized Hispanic vote, maybe they need to start thinking about the dog vote.

The dog vote - 44.9% of U.S.  households - don't piss us off.

pit bull

Comments

[eileen]

This certainly sheds a great deal of light on santorum's motives for the Paws bill! Now it all makes sense. Now the Dems must get Casey pointed in the right direction!!