AP Story: Casey says he'll do better than Santorum on global AIDS -- impact of bird-dogging

Check the end of this article for an account of SGAC bird-dogging and a statement by Casey that he'll do better than Santorum on global AIDS. Now on to domestic, y'all... Casey says Santorum attacks a sign of GOP desperation JENNIFER C. YATES Associated Press PITTSBURGH - Democrat Bob Casey said Friday that U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's contention that a win for Democrats would be disastrous shows that Republicans are desperate. With just 11 days to go in one of the nation's most competitive Senate races, Casey spoke to about 150 students at the University of Pittsburgh. With his jacket off and white shirt sleeves rolled up, Casey warned the group that Republicans would use fear to try to win the vote. Newspapers quoted Santorum earlier this week as saying a Democratic victory on Nov. 7 would be "a disaster for the future of the world." "It shows you that, in the end of the campaign, that they'll do whatever it takes to win," Casey said. Casey, the state treasurer, and Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, appeared at separate events on Friday in western Pennsylvania. Earlier in the day, Santorum spoke to supporters at Pittsburgh's Sen. John Heinz Regional History Center. Heinz, a Republican, had held Santorum's seat until he was killed in 1991 in a plane crash. Two of his sons, Chris and Andre, both Democrats, introduced Casey to a crowd made up mostly of college seniors and juniors Friday. Chris Heinz said he and his family - which includes Democratic U.S. Sen. John Kerry, his stepfather - have been disappointed by the GOP leadership. Santorum has been a part of the problem, Heinz said. "He is in my mind, bar none, the worst senator I've ever seen in my life," Chris Heinz said. "And he's an important one. And taking him down is going to send a strong message." Casey told his supporters that the election is about making change and doing something about the millions of U.S. children who don't have health insurance, global warming and the rising costs of a college education. "This race is about America and we have to make a fundamental choice in the next couple of days as a people," Casey said. Earlier in the day, about 50 people gathered for the latest of several speeches by Santorum in which he focused on what he calls "the gathering storm" of forces trying to undermine the U.S. Santorum cited a meeting of nonaligned countries in Cuba, anti-American comments by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and North Korea's recent nuclear test as examples of "how this threat has become more complex." "This is a moment, a critical crossroads in American history," said Santorum, who invoked Winston Churchill's memoir - "The Gathering Storm" - about the causes of World War II. "The parallel is so profound." He said the U.S. would likely stand alone in its fight against "Islamic fascism" and allied enemies, with only the support of Israel, and should try to establish stronger relations with Latin American countries outside Venezuela. Santorum also emphasized the need to aggressively pursue alternative sources of energy domestically, attacking Casey for supporting policies that would limit U.S. oil drilling in Alaska and offshore. "This is not someone who takes energy security seriously, this not someone who understands the threat, this is not someone that we need in the United States Senate," he said. In his speech, Casey invoked the writings of Thomas Jefferson as he argued that it's time for change. "He said, 'I like the dreams of the future, better than the history of the past and with that - with that - we remember what is ahead of us,'" Casey said. Bonnie Linville, 21, a Pitt student and president of the Student Global AIDS Project, interrupted Casey at one point to ask him about his stance on funding for HIV/AIDS education and the worldwide shortage of nurses. "Are you going to do more than Santorum?" Linville, a Democrat, shouted from the crowd. "I"m going to do more than Santorum on a lot of things," Casey said. On Saturday, Casey planned to campaign in Johnstown and Pittsburgh. Santorum was to attend rallies in Lancaster and Philadelphia, where he will be joined by first lady Laura Bush.