Rendell: Sen. Casey 'hasn't run a campaign'

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) criticized Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) for the tightening race he's found himself in, repeating statements other Democrats have made more privately, that Casey has allowed Republican Tom Smith into the race by not campaigning hard enough.

"Casey? He hasn't run a campaign. He's run one ad, a stupid Tea Party ad," Rendell told the Scranton Times-Tribune. "The Tea Party ad isn't bad, but that's all they've run. They've run a non-campaign up until now, and Smith has put a lot of money into the campaign. ... You start spending money, that'll change."

Smith, a former coal mine owner, has poured millions of his own money into the race. Casey, whose family name is known well in the state, hasn't been running very hard and has seen a once-large poll lead shrink in recent weeks. Rendell predicted Casey would still win because of his blue-collar appeal and centrist views, and because Obama would win the state.

"If Obama ends up winning the state by 6 or 7 [points] it's almost impossible for Smith to win. Without question," Rendell said. "I think, in the end, Casey is going to run ahead of Obama. If Obama wins by 5, Casey wins by 7 or 8."

Strategists on both sides still believe Casey has the edge, but a Quinnipiac University poll out Wednesday showed Casey's lead down to 3 points. Three of the five previous polls show a tight race, while two others show Casey retaining a double-digit lead.