* U.S. Rep. Ron Klink, the only western Pennsylvanian.
* Murray Levin of Montgomery County, a Philadelphia lawyer.
* Robert Rovner of Philadelphia, a one-time Republican state senator.
* State Sen. Allyson Young Schwartz of Philadelphia.
Polls show what appears to be a three-way dead heat among Klink, Foley and Schwartz, in that order.
Most of the six share views on important issues, such as health care and education. But one has been fighting for a decade - in office and out - for improved health care for children and families, a better education system statewide, gun- and violence-control and reproductive rights for women - Allyson Schwartz, and she gets our enthusiastic endorsement.
Schwartz has the intelligence, energy and gravitas to not only beat Santorum, but to be a powerful voice of reason in the Senate.
Pennsylvania has been ill-served by Santorum. From voting against the Patients Bill of Rights and HMO reform to voting against after-school programs and Head Start, Santorum has been an embarrassment.
The state's senior senator, Arlen Specter, still putting some energy into his job - for example finding a solution for the radar foul-ups at Philadelphia International Airport - is clearly coasting to retirement.
So, Pennsylvania will need a smart and vigorous voice in the capital. Schwartz has that voice.
Santorum and others will brand her with the scarlet letter:
L for liberal.
That's hardly a badge of dishonor, but it could blind people to where Schwartz parts company with some liberals (the reconsidered invitation to Jane Fonda for a fund-raiser notwithstanding).
For example, she believes in free trade and would vote to include China more fully in the global marketplace, while still mindful of its human rights abuses.
But it's on the domestic agenda where Schwartz would truly shine. As state senator for parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, she is Democratic chair of the Senate's education committee. She opposes school vouchers, but voted for charter schools in an effort to bring some needed fresh air to the debate over education.
She was also a key player in establishing the state's Children's Health Insurance Program. As former head of a woman's heath care clinic, she would be a sensible and compassionate voice on health-care reform in Washington.
As a congressman, Klink has the Washington expertise, but his affiliation with the National Rifle Association makes him unsuitable. Foley comes with an impressive background, but not enough experience for this important job.
The choice is clear: It's Allyson Schwartz in the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate.
