Democrat Bob Casey Jr. didn't show up Monday for a U.S. Senate debate sponsored by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.
Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum carried a chair with him into the debate to emphasize his opponent's absence. Santorum answered questions for 45 minutes from "60 Minutes" co-editor Lesley Stahl during the debate in Hershey, Dauphin County, shown live on the Pennsylvania Cable Network.
Casey, the state treasurer, also didn't appear earlier at a PCN debate with Santorum and Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli, who was tossed off the ballot yesterday.
Santorum was alone at the chamber debate. As Stahl asked Santorum about the war in Iraq, he said, "My opponent (Casey) isn't here to talk about this. He talks in sound bites when he does (show up)." Santorum said the people of Pennsylvania deserve better. Casey's spokesman, Larry Smar, said Casey didn't come because the chamber's national affiliate has aired more than $500,000 worth of TV ads to help Santorum. (Not paid for them, just aired them!)
Santorum and Casey engaged in a debate on NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sept. 3. They are tentatively set to debate next month in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Casey leads in the polls. Stahl suggested that candidates with a lead sometimes won't debate. Santorum said he's done so even when leading in a race. "It is frustrating to repeat this scene over and over with the empty chair," Santorum said. He has challenged Casey to 10 debates.
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