Conservative Hannity will campaign for Santorum By Dave Pidgeon Intelligencer Journal Published: Oct 26, 2006 1:37 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Noted conservative commentator Sean Hannity will be in Lancaster Saturday to give U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum a boost less than two weeks before the election.
Hannity and the two-term senator are scheduled to speak during the public rally starting at 7 p.m. in the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Manheim Township.
“We are thrilled to have him,” Santorum spokeswoman Virginia Davis said. “Sean Hannity and Sen. Santorum share a very strong commitment to the security of this country.”
In his bid for a third term, Santorum faces Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. Casey led Santorum by 11 points in the McClatchy-MSNBC poll released Monday.
Larry Smar, Casey’s spokesman, said Santorum’s appearance with moderate Republican senators in Philadelphia Wednesday coupled with a conservative talk-show host Saturday shows an inconsistent message on Santorum’s part.
“It’s different messages in different parts of the state,” Smar said.
Casey will be campaigning in Johnstown and Pittsburgh Saturday, and he is planning to visit the Lancaster area next week, Smar said.
“We’re pleased with where we are at, double digits in the polls,” Smar said. “But the only poll that matters is the one on Nov. 7.”
Hannity and Santorum have appeared together on television a number of times.
Hannity, 45, is a radio personality and co-hosts Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes,” a talk show highlighting national politics.
The son of Irish immigrants, he grew up in Franklin Square, N.Y., and later dropped out of New York University to pursue a broadcasting career.
He is one of the most visible and divisive conservative commentators on television and radio, embroiling his guests in heated debates on occasion.
Hannity’s radio talk show attracts 13 million listeners, second to Rush Limbaugh, according to http://www.wikipedia.org.
Media Matters for America on its Web site has a special page dedicated to criticizing Hannity.
While Hannity can excite right-wing Republicans, Davis said she is not concerned about the effect the commentator’s support will have on moderate, liberal and undecided voters.
Davis said when Hannity and Santorum share similar views on national security, it transcends politics.
“That’s one issue that doesn’t know party or doesn’t know ideology,” she said.
“Even if you don’t know who to vote for, you want to make sure your family is safe.”
