Four months away from the Republican primary and hot on the campaign trail, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann will speak tonight in State College at the Centre County Republican dinner.

Santorum campaign spokeswoman Virginia Davis said the senator, a Penn State graduate and founder of the Penn State College Republicans, was looking forward to speaking at the dinner.

"Sen. Santorum will discuss the important issues that he will focus on in this campaign, such as ways to strengthen the economy, secure the homeland and further Pennsylvania's priorities in the U.S. Senate," she said.

In this year's election, Santorum will most likely face Democratic candidate and Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. for his seat in the U.S. Senate.

Davis also said that Santorum is happy to return to his alma mater and that he will definitely return to State College in his campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2006.

All three Republican gubernatorial candidates -- Bill Scranton, Jim Panyard and Swann -- will also speak at tonight's event, which starts at 7 p.m. in the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

Melissa Walters, a spokeswoman for Swann, said he was also happy toreturn to State College and attend the dinner.

"He will probably thank the committee for all the support and talk about the year ahead," she said.

Swann, the Pittsburgh Steelers' second leading receiver of all time and football Hall of Famer, will challenge Scranton and Panyard for a chance to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.

Centre County Republican Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson said it would be an eventful evening. Former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., and state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, will also speak tonight. Matt Shaner and Ken Bailey, candidates for the Republican nomination to represent the 77th District, and lieutenant governor candidates Jim Matthews, Mike Turzai and Greg Sahd will also attend.

"We asked Sen. Santorum to be our keynote, and he eagerly accepted," Thompson said.

Penn State College Democrats President Alex Smith said the Republican event was not much more than a fundraiser.

"It's obvious that they are on the campaign trail," he said.

However, Smith said he believes that Santorum is not in touch with the average Pennsylvanian.

"I think what is important to point out is that Rick is out of the mainstream of most Pennsylvanians when it comes to social security and civil rights," he said.

Smith added that it was still up in the air whether or not Swann would win the primaries that take place this May.

Tickets for the event were $60 for a reception and dinner, and $100 for VIP treatment, Thompson said.

"We would love to have more people attend, but the Penn Stater set a time limit at noon [yesterday]," he said.

However, Thompson said he encouraged people who would like to attend the event to call the Centre County Republican Committee offices and the Penn Stater today.