Tom Smith Closes Gap With Bob Casey in US Senate Race

It was looking like a runaway for incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., but Pennsylvania voters are taking a closer look at Republican challenger Tom Smith, a longtime Democrat who won the Republican primary to take on Casey, a close ally of Barack Obama.

From the Tom Smith for Senate campaign:

    With less than seven weeks remaining until Election Day, a new poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research for the Pennsylvania Republican Party shows United States Senate candidate Tom Smith within the margin of error - trailing Democratic Senator Bob Casey 42% - 45%.

    "It's no surprise this race has continued to tighten as voters are beginning to better understand the differences between Bob Casey, an ineffective career politician and Tom Smith, a self-made job creator," said Smith Campaign Manager Jim Conroy. "In November, voters will have a clear choice between Bob Casey's support for job-killing policies, including higher taxes, record debt and bigger government versus Tom Smith's detailed plan to reduce the debt, simplify the tax code, and grow the economy to create jobs."

    "Our campaign is humbled by the outpouring of support we've received from across the Commonwealth and encouraged by the momentum we continue to see in public polling," Conroy added.

    The Susquehanna survey of 800 likely voters was conducted September 15-17.