Casey Beats Smith in U.S. Senate Race

U.S. Senator Bob Casey will continue representing Pennsylvanians, having handily beat Armstrong County businessman Tom Smith, who self-funded most of his campaign.

Casey took almost 2.9 million votes - almost 54 percent - compared to Smith's 2.4 million,  which was 45 percent. Third party candidate earned just shy of 2 percent.

While beating Casey, a moderate Democrat, was initially thought to be a long shot among Republicans, Smith had narrowed the gap by the end of the campaign and had several ads airing on network TV.

"To be re-elected is a great honor to me," Mr. Casey, surrounded by his family, told about 300 supporters in the Hilton Hotel & Convention Center ballroom.
"I'm grateful for the vote of confidence that the people of Pennsylvania have given me," Casey said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Smith had already won his own battle in the 2012 Republican Primary, beating the endorsed Republican Candidate Steve Welch.

"Who would have thought that an old farm boy from Armstrong County who got his place in a coal mine would be standing here with all you good people tonight? Wow! What a ride!" Smith said, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.