Would Hoeffel beat Santorum?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Since Hoeffel was running against a pro-choice rather popular Republican, I think the point that he barely won Allegheny when Kerry won it by a much larger margin is irrelevant.

And despite his lack of appearl in parts of the state, he would've still won, as a dead dog would beat Santorum with his current approval ratings.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I agree that Hoeffel is a weak candidate. In the House, he ran behind Gore in his congressional district. That said, he would still beat Santorum because the race would be about party and ideology, not Hoeffel.

And in terms of ideology and how much each has done while in office, Santorum wins. The race is never always about party, nclib, so stop living in your fantasy world.

But Santorum still has utterly dismal numbers, so clearly voters don't like his ideology and/or what he's done in office.

I'd bet that Hoeffel's numbers last election will be better than Santorum's in the upcoming.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I assume you mean less than 42%. And and/or basically. Either one works.