Published: October 30, 2008 11:47 pm      

Casey visits Somerset, Bedford to push for Obama

SOMERSET — Walking from booth to booth inside the Summit Diner, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey shook hands with patrons and made a late campaign pitch for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday morning.

While customers such as Don Stotler, John Drabish and Paul Kelly already have their minds set before Election Day on Tuesday, Casey described his hour-long, informal stop at the eatery near the turnpike interchange as a chance to sway undecided voters and stir party participation.

“It’s a way to talk to people in a setting that isn’t just a hall,” the first-term senator said over breakfast of ham and pancakes.

“People are more willing to talk, and there’s a conversation.”

Casey also stopped in Bedford on Thursday, visiting with the early morning crowd at the Landmark Restaurant.

“In order to reach people who are either undecided or leaning one way or the other,” Casey said, “you have to go to them.”

In a county where Republicans outnumber Democrats, visits by Casey and Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell during the past week demonstrate the emphasis Democrats are placing on culling votes for Obama in GOP strongholds.

Drabish, a 66-year-old Republican from Berlin, said he’s going to vote for John McCain.

“I don’t know Obama well enough,” he said. “I’m pro-life, and (Obama) hasn’t shown me his leadership abilities.”

Sitting across the booth, Stotler, 65, of Berlin said he won’t vote for Obama, either, even though he’s a Democrat.

Instead, he said he simply won’t go to the polls Tuesday.

Paul Kelly, 61, of Somerset, asked Casey whether he watched Obama’s 30-minute television commercial.

“He can bring change,” Kelly said. “And I like Sen. (Joe) Biden as vice president. He has experience in case anything happens to Barack.”

Casey said Obama’s message is resonating in a state where unemployment is pushing 7 percent or higher.

“Most people in Pennsylvania understand the choice they have to make,” Casey said. “The choice between change and change we need versus the same road we’ve been on.

“The middle class has been left aside the last seven years.”

A pro-life Democrat, Casey conceded he doesn’t always agree with Obama. “But,” he added, “we’ve been able to work together.

“He’s someone who treats people with respect, and he’s a very good listener,” Casey said.

“One thing Senator Obama has, and this will be to his advantage as president, is great equanimity.

“When things are going bad, he doesn’t panic,” Casey said.

“When things are going real well, he knows he never has all the answers.

“He’s got a great steadiness we’re going to need.”