Joining the ranks of many other political visitors, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, came to Penn State yesterday morning to rally for President George W. Bush's campaign.

In a last-minute decision, the senators, with the College Republicans and the Penn State Republicans, hosted a rally at the Nittany Lion Inn.

About 100 people were in attendance for the rally.

"I think the attendance really shows the State College community's support for President Bush's re-election," said Andy Banducci, College Republicans chairman.

Corman invited students to come up to the front of the room with him to thank them for their campaigning.

"These young people are the future," he said.

"In the next two weeks they will deliver this election for the president."

Banducci took the floor next, telling community members about the Republican work on campus that has led to Penn State registering more voters than at any other college campus.

The crowd booed when Banducci mentioned filmmaker Michael Moore, who is speaking on campus Friday.

"So we've got Michael Gallagher, a radio talk show host, coming to hold a movie premiere [the same night], which will be a great event," he said.

Banducci said he attributes the College Republicans' activism on campus to Santorum, who founded the group in 1977.

"Since then, we have not been afraid to speak our conservative voices on campus," he said.

During his speech, Santorum said the results of this election would have long term effects.

" ... We are facing serious threats, one known as terror which I prefer to call Islamic fascism because these people are just like the Nazis, the fascists and the Communists ... attempting to ultimately take control of the world," he said.

Santorum said fear is a major campaign tactic of the Democrats, who, he said, scare students by claiming that a vote for Bush is a vote for the draft; and scare seniors by claiming their vote will support Social Security and Medicare cutbacks.

Another Democratic use of voter intimidation is saying Bush could take away minority votes, Santorum said.

"We should be offended that these people are trying to intimidate our voters ... and we should set a decisive blow to them by winning this election," he said.

However, Megan Green, president of the College Democrats, said Republicans, not Democrats, use fear tactics.

"The Republicans say a vote for John Kerry is a vote for terrorism. ... They try to make voters think George Bush is the only person who can protect us -- that is the biggest instigator of fear right now," she said.

Green said Santorum's comments about the draft contradict facts.

"There is a backdoor draft right now. National guards are being sent to Iraq when it is not their job. ... It is a natural conclusion to draw that Bush may start a draft," she said.

After the rally, many students stayed after to discuss the election.

Jenna Wickham (junior-kinesiology) said the rally encouraged her to continue working for the Republicans and Bush's re-election.

"It was so great to come out and see so many students and community members supporting Bush ... and know we have all this support," she said.

Todd Taylor said Santorum's presentation expressed the challenges the country is facing.

"[Santorum] did a good job. ... He showed what the threat is and that John Kerry doesn't see it . ... We all saw today that liberty and freedom will end this threat and that Bush will do that," Taylor said.