Pennsylvania Senate: The race at a glance

Sen. Bob Casey (D) was supposed to win re-election in a cakewalk. Thanks to a heavy-spending challenger, Casey is now sprinting

Sen. Bob Casey Jr.
(Image credit: Facebook.com/Senator Bob Casey)

When Republican coal magnate Tom Smith won a five-way GOP primary to challenge incumbent Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.), few people took his Senate bid seriously — even though he spent more than $4 million of his own fortune to beat his GOP rivals, and Casey has middling approval ratings. But by pouring another $12.5 million of his own money into the race, plus raising millions more from other donors, Smith has effectively spent his way into a close (and tightening) race.

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