When in early June I first commented on Senator Rick Santorum's sudden adoption of the immigration issue in his desperate re-election battle I concluded

Some might find this distasteful opportunism. But to succeed immigration reform needs a coalition. When the rats start boarding your ship, you can be more confident it will float.

Santorum is a welcome sign.

Apparently Senator Santorum is feeling more confident about re election these days (or maybe he has been promised a big dollop of RNC campaign funds). In Sunday night's Meet The Press debate between Santorum and his Democratic opponent Bob Casey not one word was said about immigration. Instead, apparently by agreement (Casey got to open) half the debate consisted of the ludicrous spectacle of these middle-aged Pennsylvanians competing to be the more bellicose over the Middle East. Casey wants to send more Special Forces to Iraq, Santorum to confront Iran.

The rest was some tax wonkery, abortion-baiting, and some personal trivia.

In essence, the program was an effective curtain raiser for the White House's effort to militarise the November elections. Clearly, it was planned that way.

With a remarkable lack of professionalism, host Tim Russert allowed the debate to conclude without any consideration of an aspect of the race which has received a lot of MSM attention.

Or maybe it was professional. His paymasters in the Big Media absolutely do not want the subject discussed. It is more important to them who rules Iran than what life is like in small town Pennsylvania.

As for Casey, he neglected a subject where at least he has a constituency and where he could have forced Santorum into contradicting either himself or the White House. Instead he allowed himself to be manouvered into abject me-tooism on the Middle East. He is out of his league.