Democrat Bob Casey narrowly defeated Republican Bill Scranton III, in a race that featured two very high-profile candidates.

The affable Casey had a reformist but conservative track record that made him popular in rural areas and unionized towns, while Rendell had a strong urban base.

[2] The race featured back-and-forth polling in the months preceding the election, with the public demonstrating generally positive views toward both figures, but growing weary of their negative campaigning that dominated the contest.

Late in the campaign, then-unknown political consultant James Carville commissioned what became known as "the guru ad" for Casey.

Aired mainly in rural areas, the ad emphasized Scranton's wealthy family background, use of recreational drugs as a college student, and open practice of and advocacy for transcendental meditation (with the image of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi accompanied by "Indian"-sounding music); as a result, Casey appeared as the more socially conservative and less corrupt candidate, which helped him to a strong performance for a Democrat in traditionally Republican areas of Central Pennsylvania.