U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum contended yesterday that the British discovery of a plot to bomb airliners is evidence of a "global war on Islamic fascism," embracing fronts from Afghanistan to the United States.

"It shows you that the threat that we've been talking about is not just in Afghanistan; it's not just in Iraq; it's not just in southern Lebanon and northern Israel," Mr. Santorum said as he campaigned in Westmoreland County. "It is a pervasive threat ... by those Islamic fascists.

"These people will not stop until we stop them."

In several interviews as he toured Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Republican accused Democrats of politicizing the war issue, and sending messages that, he said, encouraged perceptions by the nation's enemies that the United States lacks resolve.

In doing so, the Republican echoed the analysis of GOP figures, including Vice President Dick Cheney, that Sen. Joseph Lieberman's defeat by an anti-war candidate in the Democratic primary in Connecticut showed a lack of resolve on national security.

Reacting to Mr. Santorum's charges, a spokesman for his Democratic opponent maintained that it was the senator who was seeking political dividends in yesterday's headlines.

"The scary part of all this is, if you look at the polls, if you look at what happened Tuesday night in Connecticut, some people might believe that they are winning," Mr. Santorum said, referring to enemies who seek to weaken the nation's resolve.

"People, particularly those on the left, have seen this as a political football," he argued. "Our men and women are out there fighting and they're fighting not because some, quote, politician, decided to go to war. They're fighting because we were attacked."

In two radio interviews yesterday afternoon and in other appearances, Mr. Santorum repeatedly accused Democrats of politicizing the issues of terror and the war in Iraq.

Asked if he believed that anti-war Democrats were motivated by electoral calculation rather than by genuine opposition to the Iraqi conflict, Mr. Santorum said, "I don't think there's any question that they're playing to their political left. They're reacting to the hard core left of their party that is beating the drum, you saw it in Connecticut, that this is a huge political issue for the Democrats."

For the most part, Mr. Santorum did not specifically tie his November opponent, Democratic Treasurer Bob Casey, to his analysis of Democratic motivations on the war issue. Mr. Casey, in contrast to some members of his party, has not called for a troop withdrawal in Iraq. Talking of national security broadly, however, Mr. Santorum told one radio host, "I believe that this country needs strong leadership right now. There's a clear difference between Bob Casey and me on this issue."

Larry Smar, a spokesman for Mr. Casey, dismissed the Republican's contentions.

"Today was a success for those fighting on front lines of the war in terror. It's not the time for cheap partisan attacks," said Mr. Smar. "But if Rick Santorum insists, he should look at his own record and the failure by Congress to enact the non-partisan 9/11 commission's recommendations. ... To suggest that Bob Casey is weak on security -- that is irresponsible rhetoric, especially when you look at the record of this Congress."