With the 2006 senatorial election a year and a half away, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., is slipping in the polls to opposing candidate, State Treasurer Robert Casey, Jr., D-Pa., by a 14 percent margin, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.

However, John Brabender, media consultant for Santorum's campaign, said any poll that is 19 to 20 months before an election should not be taken too seriously because the numbers are expected to change dramatically.

"In several past campaigns, early numbers often favor a statewide candidate," Brabender said.

"As they start to take positions on issues, their numbers usually drop," he added.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, said Casey is currently serving a statewide position and cannot get into detailed politics yet.

"[Casey] has to focus on his statewide office as treasurer," Benninghoff said. "The Senate race is not in full swing until a year from now and anything can change the dynamics of the race."

Casey's campaign manager Jay Reiff said Casey is glad to have a lead, but it is still a long way from elections, and the poll must be viewed with suspect. "It is a clear indication that Sen. Santorum is out of step with a lot of Pennsylvania voters," Reiff said. "Casey believes Santorum has turned his back on the middle class families in Pennsylvania."

Reiff said Social Security would "clearly" be an issue of debate in the senatorial race. He added that Casey believes President George W. Bush's proposal does nothing to prevent future solvency and wants an honest plan that addresses the problems that the president's plan does not.

College Democrats President Megan Green said she thinks the issues of Social Security and Terri Schiavo will play a role in Santorum's drop in the polls, but that it is important to look at Casey as a candidate. "He is a moderate Democrat, which makes him appealing in Pennsylvania," Green said.

Green said across the country there has been a general dislike toward the idea of privatizing Social Security.

"People aren't buying into the Social Security plan and Santorum has been the poster child for it," Green said. "He was trying to show his loyalty to the party and build a name, but they didn't take into account Pennsylvania opposition."

Social Security is a controversial issue and Santorum is trying to give his constituents options, Benninghoff said.

"There are grave concerns that the system could implode and most people are scared about the issue," he added.

Charles Gable, Penn State College Republicans staff adviser, said the polls could easily shift in Santorum's favor.

Gable added that Santorum's positions on Social Security and Terri Schiavo are positions Santorum thinks are good for the country.

"In the Terri Schiavo case, Santorum, along with President George W. Bush, promoted a culture of life," Gable said.

However, Brabender said he does not think the Schiavo case will be a key issue in the senatorial race.

Santorum has not taken a specific position on Social Security other than that there is a problem with the system, Gable said, adding that he does not think that most Pennsylvanians know what Casey's positions are on the issues of Social Security and the Terri Schiavo case.

Brabender said the Democrats and Casey have only stated that they are opposed to the president's plan, which is presently a safe position.

"The Democrats have purposely refused to put up a plan, but they can only do that for so long," he said.