The American Spectator

“There was some concern that they might be seeing some Democratic version of Steve Moore or the Club for Growth up there,” says the staffer. “The field had generally been cleared, but there are a lot of Democrats in Pennsylvania that are not happy about how this thing was done. Schumer wanted to at least try to put off any problems that might divert the party from a clear challenge to [Sen. Rick] Santorum.”

Santorum is the Democrats’ top target in 2006. The conservative Republican has been attempting to shore up his support among Catholics and social conservatives after some political and strategic missteps in the 2004 election cycle. There is growing sense among Republicans that he has righted the campaign ship, and growing doubts about Casey’s political positions should help him.

p> DICK LUGAR HEARS IT br> Senate Foreign Relations chairman Richard Lugar was slapped down pretty hard for his tepid remarks about President Bush’s U.N. ambassador nominee, John Bolton . The senior Indiana senator and other Republicans quickly heard from Bolton supporters outside the Administration. According to Republican sources, lobbyists for the National Rifle Association were on Capitol Hill last week meeting with Senators. /p>

“The message was clear: the Bolton confirmation vote was a litmus test for conservative groups here in Washington and around the country,” says the staffer for a Midwestern Republican. “They don’t want this vote to be 52-48. Conservatives want this vote to be a statement to the U.N. and its supporters.”