Dave McCormick is in a tight race as he works to unseat incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., in the closely watched battleground state.
Casey was elected in 2006 and has universal name recognition in the state where his dad served as governor. McCormick is also running behind former President Donald Trump, who tops the Republican ticket, Punchbowl News reported.
"President Trump helps me because he helps turn out the vote, and I'm very much in favor of his policy agenda, for the most part. But I've got to run my own campaign," McCormick told Punchbowl. "I also have to be able to appeal to voters in the suburbs, in cities. I've got to be able to build a coalition that gets me to 50 plus one."
McCormick said he intends to represent all of Pennsylvania, not just MAGA Republicans, and has portrayed himself as an "independent guy" and a "problem solver," Punchbowl said.
"You have to appeal to a broader group of people to win in Pennsylvania," McCormick said to Punchbowl.
The businessman has won the endorsement of former Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who said he won't vote for Trump. Another anti-Trump Republican, Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, recently appeared at a McCormick rally alongside Donald Trump Jr.
McCormick said Casey would just rubber stamp Vice President Kamala Harris' agenda.
"Those radical San Francisco liberal policies don't fly in Pennsylvania and at a time when Pennsylvania's becoming more and more red," McCormick said to Punchbowl.
Casey hit back, telling Punchbowl that McCormick opposed the 2022 bipartisan infrastructure law and bipartisan border security deal.
"My record [is] delivering for the state like never before in terms of a senator being able to bring back the kinds of dollars I've brought back… compared to his record as a hedge fund CEO, not investing in Pennsylvania," Casey said to Punchbowl. "He doesn't have the guts to stand up to Trump."
While Republicans are expected to flip the Senate, Pennsylvania could determine how big a majority the GOP has.
"I'm not sure if the [Senate] majority will be decided here… but certainly a safe majority," McCormick said to Punchbowl. "Pennsylvania punches above its weight."
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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