Robert P. Casey (teacher)

Robert P. "Bob" Casey is a former Democratic Party politician from Pennsylvania. Casey bears no relation to Robert P. Casey, the former Governor of Pennsylvania. Casey, a political anomaly, famously won the Democratic primary for the 1978 nomination for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor by capitalizing on having the same name as a well known official. Casey worked as a biology teacher for Pittsburgh Public Schools and owned an ice cream shop in the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

In 1976, the Cambria County Treasurer named Robert E. Casey won the nomination for Pennsylvania Treasurer. In 1978, the well known Robert P. Casey ran for Pennsylvania Governor, losing in the Democratic primary to Pittsburgh Mayor Pete Flaherty. However, Casey the Pittsburgh teacher was victorious in a crowded 14-way primary for lieutenant governor; the win came despite the fact that Casey spent almost no money on his campaign. Analysts theorize that voters believed they were selecting the better known Casey for this position.

References

• Runningmates not Crucial to Gubernatorial Candidates
• The Pennsylvania Brand Name Game