ennsylvania Democrat Ron Klink won the nomination to challenge Republican senator Rick Santorum on Tuesday. Congressman Klink's win is a victory of sorts for conservatives, as the congressman usually votes with pro-lifers and Second Amendment activists. It's a lot harder to make the case that the conservative positions on abortion and guns are out of the mainstream when both of the candidates in the biggest contest this year in Pennsylvania-not the least significant state in the union-support them. Allyson Schwartz, the runner-up to Klink, tried to make an issue of these stands. Even in a Democratic primary, that tactic didn't bring her a victory. The Pennsylvania Democratic party remains a Bob Casey party — more conservative than the national party. (That's one reason the state Republican party is more liberal than the national party; the sort of ideological realignment that happened in other places two decades ago hasn't affected Pennsylvania.)

By the same token, however, Klink's win is probably bad news for Santorum. He's going to have to fight Klink on the grounds of economics rather than values. Pro-life activists ought not sit this one out: Santorum has led the battle against partial-birth abortion; and Klink could in theory help create a Democratic majority that would keep pro-life legislation bottled up. That case won't work, though, for your average voter with moderately conservative inclinations.

But there are silver linings for Santorum. The national pro-abortion money will sit out the race. And the low turnout in Philly, which hurt Schwartz in the primary, may spell trouble for Klink in November. Also, Klink is from the western part of the state, like Santorum. Santorum doesn't need to fear getting pummeled in the east.

Partial Success
The House today passed a partial-birth abortion ban by a vote of 287-141, two votes more than a veto-proof majority. Last October, the Senate approved a ban by a vote of 63-34, two votes shy of the number needed to override President Clinton's expected veto.