PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Santorum's primary challenger drops out of race Featherman got just under 48,000 votes in a race against Santorum, Democrat Ron Klink and two other candidates as the Libertarian Party's nominee in 2000. He also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in a special election in 1998.Santorum sent a letter to ask for a debate.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Santorum's primary challenger, ex-L, John Featherman, drops out of race
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Santorum's primary challenger drops out of race
3/15/2006, 4:30 p.m. ET
By KIMBERLY HEFLING
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Philadelphia real-estate broker who was Sen. Rick Santorum's only Republican primary challenger is dropping out of the race.
John Featherman said Wednesday he determined it wasn't worth the money to fight the state Republican party, which on Tuesday challenged his application to be on the ballot.
Featherman filed 2,207 signatures with the application. The Secretary of State's office tossed out 185 of them, and the party filed a challenge to 1,073 more of the signatures, said Scott Migli, executive director of the state GOP. The party cited errors such as blank boxes and Democrats who signed the petitions.
"I don't have a lot of money, and I spoke to my attorney, Sam Stretton, who was willing to go with me, willing to contest it," Featherman said. "I didn't see the sense in making our side spend any more money."
Featherman is a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights, gay marriage and a flat tax.
On Friday, Santorum's campaign manager sent Featherman a letter asking if he'd like to debate. Featherman said Wednesday he is baffled as to why the senator would send the letter if the state party was going to challenge the signatures.
"The only question is why Rick Santorum's people invited me to a debate," Featherman said.
Virginia Davis, Santorum's campaign press secretary, said the senator was keeping his promise that he would debate any primary opponent on the ballot and was not aware the state party was going to challenge the signatures.
The senator wishes Featherman the best in his future endeavors, Davis said.
Featherman got just under 48,000 votes in a race against Santorum, Democrat Ron Klink and two other candidates as the Libertarian Party's nominee in 2000. He also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in a special election in 1998.
In the Democratic party, state Treasurer Bob Casey is considered the leading candidate, and he consistently has been ahead of Santorum in polls. Chuck Pennacchio, a University of the Arts professor, and Philadelphia pension lawyer Alan Sandals, are also running in the Democratic primary.
Associated Press Writer Martha Raffaele contributed to this story from Harrisburg, Pa.
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