Already, Mr. Santorum's race for a third six-year term against
Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey Jr., the namesake son of a popular
former governor, is shaping up as the marquee 2006 event for gauging
voter reaction to how Mr. Bush and his party handle the issue. Will
voters punish the Republicans for overreaching on Social Security, as
Democrats predict? Or will they reward those who confront Social
Security's projected insolvency at midcentury, as the president and Mr.
Santorum suggest, and rebuke those who don't?
This raises the wonderful prospect that Senator Santorum is
going to actually run for his seat, and that with proper
support, his opponent can remove him and his agenda.