Rick Santorum Tom Smith, farmer and businessman and candidate for governor in 2010 Steve Welch, businessman Withdrew Tim Burns, businessman and unsuccessful candidate for the 12th district in the 2010 special and general elections Laureen Cummings, Tea Party activist John Vernon, retired Army colonel Declined Jake Corman, state senator Charlie Dent, U.S. representative Jim Gerlach, U.S. representative Keith Loiselle, businessman Glen Meakem, radio host Pat Meehan, U.S. representative Tim Murphy, U.S. representative Dominic Pileggi, State Senate Majority Leader Mark Schweiker, former Pennsylvania governor Bill Shuster, U.S. representative Mike Turzai, State House Majority Leader Kim Ward, state senator Joe Watkins, MSNBC contributor Campaign In January 2012, the Pennsylvania Republican Party officially endorsed Steve Welch for U.S. Senate. The largest state newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, also endorsed Welch. He was also endorsed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, he was criticized for changing his party registration. In 2008, he became a Democrat so he could vote for Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In 2006, he donated money to Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak. Tom Smith spent nearly $3 million in the first three months of 2012, outspending Welch 2-1. Smith has spent a wide majority of it in television advertising. Like Welch, Smith has also registered as a Democrat. However, unlike Welch who was a registered Democrat for only a few years, Smith was a Democrat for 42 years. Smith was a Plumcreek Township Supervisor and allegedly raised taxes 9 times (including the real estate, earned income, and per capita taxes). Over the past decade, he donated over $185,000 to Republican candidates. The only Democrat he donated to was Congressman Jason Altmire, a moderate Blue Dog. Sam Rohrer, a former State Representative, ran for statewide office again after losing to State Attorney General Tom Corbett in the 2010 Republican primary for Pennsylvania Governor. Rohrer was endorsed by various tea party organizations, as well as U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. David Christian, a Vietnam war veteran and businessman, also ran. He previously ran for congress in 1984 and 1986. He was endorsed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Polling Results General election Candidates Bob Casey, Jr. (Democratic), incumbent U.S. Senator Tom Smith (Republican), businessman Rayburn Smith (Libertarian) Debates Complete video of debate, October 26, 2012 - C-SPAN Fundraising Top contributors Top industries Predictions Polling Republican primary General election Results Despite many predictions of a close race, the election