Santorum’s exit could mean lower turnout in Pa. primary

With Rick Santorum out of the presidential race, Republicans have lost the biggest get-out-the-vote rallying cry they had in Pennsylvania. 

No more Santorum means Republican turnout is likely to be lower at the polls in less than two weeks.

“This was the marquee election on the ballot,” said Christopher Borick, a political science professor and pollster at Muhlenberg College in Lehigh County. “Therefore, for the marginal voter who would be interested in that race and not very interested in anything else, the likelihood that they show up is going to be lower.”

He says it’s not the best-case scenario for Republican candidates who are facing Democratic opponents in special elections scheduled on the primary day. Those candidates are vying for six vacant state House seats.

Borick says it’s still hard to say what effect Santorum’s withdrawal could have on the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania. That contest to take on Democratic incumbent Bob Casey in the fall is split between five Republican candidates.