Former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey set aside the bruises of the 2004 GOP Senate primary yesterday to endorse U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's re-election.

Pat Toomey

The political embrace, on the eve of a Republican State Committee meeting today at which Santorum will receive the backing of the state party hierarchy, was noteworthy in that Santorum worked tirelessly against Toomey in his effort last year to wrest the GOP U.S. Senate nomination from incumbent Arlen Specter.

Specter has acknowledged that Santorum's efforts were crucial to his narrow victory over the conservative challenger. Santorum's decision to stand by his Senate colleague was controversial in some GOP circles, particularly among his conservative base of supporters, who had been alienated by Specter's more centrist voting record.

Toomey's endorsement is calculated to persuade conservatives still upset with Santorum to follow Toomey's lead in letting political bygones be bygones.

It was part of the maneuvering before the state committee meeting in Harrisburg today, at which one of the few real questions is whether party leaders can gracefully fend off rank-and-file attempts to formally denounce the legislative pay raise enacted with the support of the state Legislature's Republican majority.

The committee members are expected to endorse Santorum, who faces token opposition for the GOP nomination from John Featherman, in addition to a widely anticipated challenge from Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey in the 2006 general election. Party members were not expected to take action in the governor's race, in which there is far more suspense about their choice.

Lynn Swann, former Steelers wide receiver, state Sen. Jeff Piccola and former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton all are vying for the right to challenge Democratic incumbent Gov. Ed Rendell. The state committee is expected to make its recommendation in that race early next year.

In recent days, Scranton has showcased the support of three members of the GOP congressional delegation -- Reps. Phil English, John Peterson and Don Sherwood -- while Swann drew the backing of their colleague, Rep. Bill Shuster.

The Scranton campaign also announced yesterday that Leslie Gromis Baker had signed on to co-chair its effort alongside Glen Meakem, founder and former CEO of FreeMarkets Inc. Gromis Baker managed former Gov. Tom Ridge's 1998 re-election effort. Last year, she directed the mid-Atlantic states for Bush/Cheney 2004.