Pennsylvania Senate candidate Casey says Democratic Party becoming more open to those opposing abortion rights

Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bob Casey (D), a candidate for the U.S. Senate who opposes abortion rights, on Friday said he has been "encouraged to see Democrats in this new century becoming more open to people who are pro-life," the AP/Phillyburbs.com reports (Hefling, AP/Phillyburbs.com, 9/15).

Delivering a 45-minute lecture at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Casey said that "neither party has gotten it right when it comes to life issues," and both parties should "unite ... behind the understanding that the common good requires us to value all life."

He said lawmakers cannot be "pro-life" and cut funding for the Women, Infants and Children's Program, Medicaid or Head Start, adding that he supported legislation introduced in the House that would aim to curb "the underlying factors that often lead women to choose abortion" (Cooperman, Washington Post, 9/15).

Casey has said he opposes abortion rights with exceptions for cases involving rape or incest or to save the life of the woman (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/11).

His opponent in the November election, incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum (R), has said he opposes abortion rights but would support the same exceptions (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/5).

Santorum also opposes access to emergency contraception -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse -- because he says it can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, while Casey supports EC access (Fitzgerald, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/15).