Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A former pro-life leader in the U.S. Senate is countering analysis from a Congressional magazine saying the 2010 election cycle doesn't provide much hope for the pro-life movement. Rick Santorum, who represented Pennsylvania and was the sponsor of the partial-birth abortion ban, says otherwise.

As LifeNews.com reported yesterday, the Hotline says 2010 doesn't look good for the pro-life movement if only because pro-life Republican lawmakers face more challenging re-election races than pro-abortion Democrats.

Hotline says Republicans have improved their chances in 2010 but "the inescapable math is that Republicans now have six open Senate seats, five of which are likely to be competitive, whereas Democrats have only two, only one of which is certain to be contested."

But Santorum, writing in an email to raise money for candidates, believes the outpouring of opposition to pro-abortion President Barack Obama could turn 2010 into a replay of 1994. That's when pro-life advocates gained control of the House and Senate for the first time in decades.

"I believe that we are facing a very similar opportunity today," Santorum writes. "Across our nation, voters are waking up to the disastrous consequences of Barack Obama's presidency."

"Americans who were willing to take him at his word when he campaigned as a supposedly 'reasonable,' 'moderate' candidate are beginning to understand what lies behind the media hype and insincere charm," he added.

He said Americans are recognizing that the pro-abortion advocates in charge of Congress "jeopardize our future, with activist judges who disregard the Constitution, [and] wholesale takeover of health care."

"A new tide of popular grassroots opposition to the Obama Democrats' senseless policies and insatiable hunger for power is rising across America," Santorum writes. "There is real enthusiasm for a truly conservative alternative to the leftist Democrats."

"Main Street Americans are voicing their opposition with a renewed sense of patriotism. Tea Party protests, enthusiasm for less government, and anger at Washington's derisive attitude toward America's bedrock values are growing," Santorum says.

The pro-life former senator urges pro-life advocates to get involved in the next elections by helping pro-life candidates and supporting groups willing to do the heavy lifting to get them elected.

If the 2009 elections are any indication, Santorum's prediction may be coming true.

New Jersey and Virginia have gubernatorial elections that are the onyl major races this election cycle. In both cases, pro-life advocates have substantial leads over their pro-abortion opponents, even though Obama won both states during the presidential election last year.

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