It's been a big week for politics at University Park -- after speeches by Gov. Ed Rendell and challenger Lynn Swann, U.S. Senate candidate Bob Casey will address students today about the Nov. 7 election.

The Penn State College Democrats will host a rally for Casey at 5:30 tonight in the HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium. Casey spokesman Bobby Zafarnia said Casey will be speaking about issues affecting education as well as the country's need for a new direction, new leadership and a new focus on solving problems in Iraq.

"Bob Casey wants to make a lot of important changes to our government," Zafarnia said. "We need to look at our crisis with healthcare and reestablish priorities that are important to voters and the American people."

The College Democrats hosted a rally for Gov. Ed Rendell on Tuesday that brought a larger-than-expected crowd, College Democrats press secretary Eliot Schmidt said. The group is prepared for a larger gathering this time.

"The room we have tomorrow can fit at least 300 people, and we'd like to have an even larger crowd for Casey than we had for the governor," Schmidt said. "We're hoping to fill the HUB auditorium and have standing room only."

Casey has been traveling across the state, stopping in many towns and universities, Zafarnia said. He added that Casey just finished rallies at the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University. Penn State is one of the last places Casey will be visiting before election day, he said.

"I'm very happy that both Rendell and Casey decided to stop at Penn State during the last full week of campaigning before the election," Schmidt said. "It shows students at Penn State how valuable we are as a student body and as voters in general."

There has been no announcement of a campaign visit by U.S. Senate incumbent Rick Santorum this week, which is something Schmidt said sends a strong message to students.

"Lynn Swann is at least here but he's talking to the business expo, not students, but Santorum isn't even coming to Penn State," he said. "It's important that candidates come because it shows they value student concerns and that the student vote is important to them."

Zafarnia agreed with Schmidt and said Santorum's priorities are misdirected.

"This is just an example of Santorum not being able to focus on what the voters of Pennsylvania want and what issues matter to the student population," Zafarnia said. "He needs to address issues like job availability, funding for the sciences and tax cuts for middle class families -- all of which Casey makes sure to cover."

Centre County Republicans Chairman G.T. Thompson said he is amazed by how ignorant those comments really are.

"Frankly these people are very misinformed, because Santorum is an alumnus of Penn State and both Penn State and Centre County hold a very special place in the senator's heart," Thompson said. "The senator has been here numerous times already this year for the opening of the new creamery, the Pennsylvanian Rural Health Care Association meeting, the grange fair and just a few weeks ago for homecoming."

Todd Taylor, the president of the College Republicans, also felt that anyone who believes Santorum hasn't shown enough support for student concerns is mistaken.

"The fact is that Santorum has been here at least three times this year already, and now just because Casey is coming a few days before Election Day people are saying he cares about students," Taylor said. "It just proves that they are pandering for votes."