Pennsylvania Politics -- Santorum and Specter, the Odd Couple

USA Today reports:

WASHINGTON — For more than a decade, Pennsylvania's two Republican senators, Arlen Specter of Philadelphia and Rick Santorum of Pittsburgh, have avoided open spats. "I don't think we've ever come close to airing our differences publicly," the moderate Specter said of his conservative colleague.

As the Senate prepares to debate next month whether to allow federal funding for stem cell research using human embryos, the Pennsylvanians have taken leading roles on opposite sides. Santorum believes such research entails destroying human life. Specter says the stem cells used would come from embryos that would otherwise be discarded.

The article seems to hope that such a split will emerge in the coming election season when Santorum is running for re-election, but as Terry Madonna notes, that is unlikely.

Madonna says the pair have developed a "rock solid" relationship after a rough start in 1994 when Specter tried to recruit several moderate Republicans to oppose Santorum's first Senate bid. Specter later threw his support to the young congressman and helped Santorum win the Philadelphia suburbs to eke out a narrow victory over Democrat Harris Wofford.

Santorum repaid the favor last year. Despite Specter's centrist views, Santorum defended him from a strong challenge from conservative Pat Toomey.

"Without his help," Specter says, "I wouldn't have won the primary."

Nor, arguably, would he have been able to fend off an attempt by conservative activists after the election to deny Specter the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, despite his seniority.

Santorum "took a lot of criticism from those on the right" for helping Specter in both cases, says Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, an abortion rights opponent who favors embryonic stem cell research.

Now it's Specter's turn again. He has raised more than $500,000 this year for Santorum's 2006 re-election campaign. He says the younger senator's two-term seniority and rapid rise in the Senate leadership "means a lot to Pennsylvania."

Specter and Santorum have illustrated what Senatorial collegiality can be. They respect and help one another despite ideological differences. In todays's highly charged political environment in which ideologically driven activist groups control the pursestrings of elections, it is refreshing to see such comity.

Democrats have targeted Santorum in the upcoming elections. He's going to need all the help he can get, and Specter can be relied upon to furnish much of it.

"They're not bosom buddies; they don't hang around together, but they've worked out this accommodation," Madonna says. "They continue to support each other come hell or high water."

Read it here.