At RNC, PA Candidate Dave McCormick Talks Stakes Of Election

By John Cole | Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick delivered a brief address to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday, where the theme of the evening was “Make America Safe Once Again.”

“Who’s ready to retire Joe Biden and border czar Kamala Harris and send her back to California. Who’s ready for that?” McCormick asked the audience. “And who’s ready to make Donald Trump our 47th president, are you ready for that? And who’s ready to make J.D. Vance, our new vice president? And who’s ready to send Chuck Schumer packing? I’m ready.”

McCormick briefly referenced being present at President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler on Saturday, where he delivered an address prior to Trump and was seated near him during the assassination attempt that left attendee Corey Comperatore dead, and two others hospitalized. The shooter was also killed at the scene. 

After highlighting that experience, McCormick, as he does during most speeches on the campaign trail, linked U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to President Joe Biden’s agenda. 

“He is a do-nothing, out of touch liberal career politician, and when he votes, he votes for Joe Biden’s tired old ideas,” McCormick said on Tuesday. 

McCormick also highlighted the issues of public safety, border security, inflation, and natural gas regulations. He’s the only Pennsylvania candidate currently scheduled to speak at the convention.

The PA Democratic Party sent out a statement shortly after McCormick’s speech criticizing him for trying to “hide behind false attacks,” and blasting his record. “This November, Pennsylvanians will re-elect Senator Casey, a leader Pennsylvanians can trust to create jobs, fight fentanyl, and deliver for working families,” spokesperson Tanisha Cameron said.

Earlier on Tuesday, McCormick spoke at the Pennsylvania State Federal Order of Police Conference in Bethlehem. In a social media post afterward, McCormick shared a picture of himself shaking hands with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, lauding him for the response to Saturday’s deadly attack.

Both the Casey and McCormick campaigns filed their second quarter reports on Monday, showing each of them raised more than $8 million between April 4 and June 30. 

Recent polling has shown Trump with a narrow edge over Biden in the Keystone State, although Casey still holds a sizable advantage over McCormick. And national ratings outlets like the Cook Political Report rate Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race as “leans Democratic.”

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