Will this development drain the Pro-Abortion voters from Pro-Life (at least for a) Democrat Bob Casey?

A prominent abortion-rights activist, Kate Michelman, said this week she is considering running as an independent in the race for the seat held by Sen. Rick Santorum.

Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican, and his leading Democratic opponent, State Treasurer Bob Casey, have both said they are opposed to abortion. Casey upset some Democrats when he said he supported the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Michelman, the past president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, splits her time between Washington and central Pennsylvania. She said some women's rights activists have asked her to run.

"It is more about them wanting to express great frustration," Michelman said.

Casey is leading Santorum in the polls. His campaign released a statement saying, "Democrats are stronger when we work together on the many issues where we have common ground, and Bob Casey looks forward to doing that in the U.S. Senate."

A Kate Michelman candidacy may be a real gift for the incumbent.