If at first you don’t succeed…
Former Republican hedge fund CEO David McCormick announced Thursday that he will try to unseat Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, a little more than a year after McCormick narrowly lost a bitter GOP primary to celebrity surgeon and Trump-backed TV personality Dr. . Mehmet Oz.
In a commencement speech at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, the Army veteran and former CEO of Bridgewater Associates took aim at “Joe Biden’s failed leadership” and accused Casey of being a Washington insider and a “rubber stamp” for the White House.
“Remember, I am a paratrooper. When you happily choose to jump out of a plane for a living, it’s because you’re not afraid to mix things up,” McCormick said. “I refuse to accept things as they are in Washington.”
“We have a big problem: our southern border is open, while too many of our factories are closed,” he said. “Crime is increasing and income is decreasing. Gas, food and rent prices are high, while confidence in our leaders is low.”
Republican candidate David McCormick announced Thursday he is running next year to unseat Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey.AP
In a commencement speech at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, the repeat GOP Senate candidate accused his opponent of being a Washington insider and a “rubber stamp” for the White House.AP
McCormick also touted his Keystone State origins, describing himself as a “seventh-generation Pennsylvanian” whose parents worked as teachers — contrasting his upbringing with Casey, whose father served as Pennsylvania’s governor from 1987 to 1995.
“My opponent is part of the problem,” he said. “He first ran for office almost thirty years ago. Bob Casey can’t change Washington. Bob Casey is Washington.”
McCormick, 58, is likely to be the only significant GOP challenger to Casey in what is expected to be one of the most competitive — and expensive — races to determine whether Democrats retain control of their 51-49 Senate majority.
“My opponent is part of the problem,” McCormick said. “He first ran for office almost thirty years ago. Bob Casey can’t change Washington. Bob Casey is Washington.” AP
McCormick came up short by 950 votes in the 2022 Republican primary against Oz, who later lost the general election to incumbent Democratic Senator John Fetterman.
Unlike in other races this cycle in West Virginia and Montana, McCormick is not expected to face a primary challenge from any of the candidates endorsed by the 77-year-old former president.
“Dave McCormick has done an incredible job of unifying the grassroots in Pennsylvania,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in a statement. “A West Point graduate, combat veteran and Pennsylvania job creator, Dave is the type of candidate who can win both the primary and the general election in one of the most competitive states in the country. Great news that Dave is stepping up service for our country once again.”
Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who may have considered running after the governor’s loss last fall, has declined to enter the race and opted to endorse McCormick instead.
“It’s time to come together,” Mastriano said on Monday during the interview on “The Real American Voice.”
McCormick is the lone GOP challenger to Casey in one of the most competitive races of 2024 to determine whether Democrats retain control of their 51-49 Senate majority.AP
Kathy Barnette, who finished third in last year’s Senate primary, is working as the national grassroots director for 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, leaving the field open.
But the Republican faces an uphill battle against Casey, who is seeking a fourth term in office and carries his father’s famous name. Democrats lead by five percentage points in the closest poll between the two — and by a double-digit margin in the latest poll.
Two Pennsylvania Senate seats were held by a Republican and a Democrat between Casey’s 2006 victory and GOP Sen. Pat Toomey’s retirement in 2022.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has also thrown his support behind Casey, criticizing McCormick for splitting her time between Pennsylvania and her lavish Connecticut mansion.REUTERS
Casey, 63, has raised more than $4 million since the start of the year for his re-election bid and has nearly $6 million cash on hand, according to federal campaign finance filings.
Fetterman has also thrown his support behind his fellow Democratic senators, criticizing McCormick over an Associated Press report that found the Republican candidate splitting time between Pennsylvania and a lavish Connecticut mansion.
But according to strategists for McCormick’s campaign, Fetterman’s attack points to a potential weakness for Casey: His low name recognition.
“He’s just been wallpaper to Pennsylvania voters,” the person said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
