Some Pa. Dems upset over Obama campaign appeal for stories about Santorum

Some Pennsylvania Democrats are upset over an appeal by President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign for anecdotes about Rick Santorum.

An email sent out this week by a leader of Obama’s state campaign urged Democrats to share their stories about the state’s conservative former senator.

Many Democrats said they viewed the email on Obama campaign letterhead as a kind of “opposition research” — a common campaign tactic — while others took offense.

He said the Republican presidential primary is a Republican matter and the email conflicts with the Obama campaign’s ethical principles.

Among them is Peter Buttenwieser, a major campaign contributor who was finance chairman of Bob Casey’s successful campaign to oust Santorum in 2006.

Buttenwieser tells The Patriot-News he was shocked by the appeal. He said the Republican presidential primary is a Republican matter and the email conflicts with the Obama campaign’s ethical principles.