| | Casey, one of eight children, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, of [[Irish American]] descent on his father's side. He is the son of Ellen Harding Casey and Bob Casey, the 42nd [[governor]] of Pennsylvania. Casey graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982, and received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in 1988. Between college and law school, Casey served as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and spent a year teaching 5th grade and coaching [[basketball]] at the Gesu School in inner city [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania. Casey practiced law in Scranton from 1991 until he ran for and was elected Pennsylvania [[State Auditor]] General in 1996. In 2002 he attempted to follow in his father's footsteps by running for Governor, but lost by 12 percentage points in the Democratic primary. | | Casey, one of eight children, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, of [[Irish American]] descent on his father's side. He is the son of Ellen Harding Casey and Bob Casey, the 42nd [[governor]] of Pennsylvania. Casey graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982, and received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in 1988. Between college and law school, Casey served as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and spent a year teaching 5th grade and coaching [[basketball]] at the Gesu School in inner city [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania. Casey practiced law in Scranton from 1991 until he ran for and was elected Pennsylvania [[State Auditor]] General in 1996. In 2002 he attempted to follow in his father's footsteps by running for Governor, but lost by 12 percentage points in the Democratic primary. |
| | Casey was drafted to run for the Senate by DSCC Chairman [[Chuck Schumer]] and [[Senate]] Minority Leader [[Harry Reid]]. He easily won the Democratic primary with 85% of the vote. Then Casey defeated incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum with 59% of the vote in the general election. | | Casey was drafted to run for the Senate by DSCC Chairman [[Chuck Schumer]] and [[Senate]] Minority Leader [[Harry Reid]]. He easily won the Democratic primary with 85% of the vote. Then Casey defeated incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum with 59% of the vote in the general election. |