Pennsylvania Senate Battle Takes Shape

(CBS/AP)  Pennsylvania voters set up one of the hottest races in the U.S. Senate, choosing Democrat and political veteran Bob Casey to challenge conservative Republican Sen. Rick Santorum this fall.

In other primary races Tuesday, Oregon's Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski defeated two rivals to seek a second term. An Iraq war veteran won the Democratic nomination for Congress in Pennsylvania, while another was defeated in a congressional primary in Kentucky.

Casey, the state's treasurer and son of the late Gov. Robert P. Casey, was courted by national Democratic Party leaders to take on Santorum, the Senate's No. 3 Republican and a close ally of President Bush. The race could cost a combined $50 million.

Casey defeated two lesser-known opponents in the Democratic primary. With 95 percent of precincts reporting, he had 596,609 votes, or 85 percent. Santorum was not opposed in the Republican primary.

"Tonight voters from across the state overwhelmingly showed President Bush, Rick Santorum and the whole 'wrong direction' gang in Washington that the values that unite us as Democrats are stronger than anything that might divide us," Casey said in a statement.

Santorum, seeking a third term, renewed his challenge for Casey to engage in debates.

"Come out from behind the name and stand before the voters of Pennsylvania and talk about the issues important to the people of this state," said Santorum, who was unopposed in his primary.

In the Pennsylvania governor's race, former football star Lynn Swann, whose campaign for governor marks his debut in politics, won the Republican nomination without opposition. Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell was nominated for a second four-year term, also without opposition.

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