Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick squared off of their first debate Thursday night, lower than 5 weeks forward of what’s anticipated to be one of the carefully watched races this election cycle.
Casey and McCormick took the talk stage Thursday at 8 p.m. in Harrisburg, the place the 2 traded barbs over points such because the economic system and inflation, immigration, abortion. The race, which is rated as “leans Democrat” by each the Fox Information Energy Rankings and the Prepare dinner Political Report, is predicted to be one of many tightest Senate races throughout the nation, with Casey himself acknowledging earlier this 12 months that will probably be a “shut, powerful race.”
Casey has lengthy been a Pennsylvania Democratic stalwart, first profitable his election to the U.S. Senate in 2007. The Casey identify additionally has deep roots within the state, with Bob Casey Sr., the senator’s father, serving because the Keystone State’s governor from 1987 to 1995, following years of serving in varied different elected roles.
McCormick is an Military fight veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, who served because the Beneath Secretary of Commerce for Trade and Safety in addition to Beneath Secretary of the Treasury for Worldwide Affairs below former President George W. Bush’s administration. Former President Donald Trump endorsed McCormick in April, lauding him as a “a great man” who “desires to run a great ship.”
MCCORMICK SEIZES ON PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RACE GAP, LAYING BORDER BLAME ON CASEY
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick greets supporters on the Indigo Resort throughout a major election evening occasion on Could 17, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photograph by Mark Makela/Getty Photographs) (Getty Photographs)
The Senate race comes because the federal election spotlights Pennsylvania as soon as once more as a key battleground state that can doubtless decide the end result of the presidential election. Former President Donald Trump narrowly gained the state in his profitable 2016 election towards former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whereas President Biden declared victory within the Keystone State within the 2020 election.
Because the pair squared off for the primary of two debates forward of Nov. 5, Fox Information Digital compiled the highest 5 moments of Thursday’s occasion.
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Casey, McCormick weigh in on federal election: ‘very shut’ race
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. (Reuters)
Casey and McCormick each weighed in on the federal election, together with Casey lauding Harris following his staunch assist of Biden earlier than the president finally dropped out of the 2024 race as issues about his psychological acuity and age mounted over the summer season.
“Out of your perspective, who’s the higher candidate for Pennsylvania? Biden or Harris?” moderator and ABC27 anchor Dennis Owens requested Casey.
“I believe Vice President Harris, who’s working a robust marketing campaign, I believe she’ll carry Pennsylvania. It may be very shut, similar to the Senate race shall be shut. However she’s working a robust marketing campaign. However the folks of our state should make two primary selections – along with different statewide races. They’ve determined within the presidential race, they usually should resolve our race, and this race may be very clear,” Casey responded.
When requested whether or not he believes Biden or Harris could be a greater president for Pennsylvania voters, Casey disregarded delivering a direct reply.
“Oh, I do not know, Dennis. I imply, we’ll by no means know the reply to that, however the voters are gonna decide,” he mentioned.
McCormick, however, was requested if he may supply one instance the place he doesn’t agree with Trump after slamming Casey in the course of the debate for overwhelmingly voting with Biden over the past three and a half years.
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“[Trump] lately mentioned that he wished to do away with the ban on SALT taxes, which Sen. Casey supported, too” McCormick responded. “Pay attention, that is a that is a tax break for millionaires in New York and California on the expense of PA taxpayers. So I would not assist that.”
“However pay attention, Senator Casey stood subsequent to Joe Biden when he may hardly end a sentence. We noticed this on the talk stage, he mentioned ‘he is able to go,'” McCormick continued, referring to Casey’s assist of Biden remaining within the presidential race till Biden finally dropped out. “Then Sen. Casey mentioned, ‘Kamala Harris is nice. You are going to love her if you get to know her.’ This can be a lady who, in the previous few years, says she wished to ban fracking, legalize unlawful immigration, give them federal advantages, take away our weapons, defund the police. That is her place, so she’s flip-flopped on every part, and Bob Casey standing there by her.”
Journalist Chuck Todd speaks with PA GOP Senate Candidate Dave McCormick after touring the Lackawanna Petroleum And Gasoline Faculty on Could 10, 2022, in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. (Getty Photographs)
Buying and selling barbs over ‘lies’
Each candidates accused the opposite of “lies” all through the talk, together with McCormick touting a brand new web site known as CaseyLies.com, and Casey accusing McCormick of misrepresenting himself as a Pennsylvanian.
“To your viewers tonight, I’ve an internet site that is been established as we speak, it is simply been launched, CaseyLies.com. You’ll be able to go and see the precise details by third-party sources of all of the issues he is saying. There shall be lies all through. However you need to ask your self, ‘Why is a senator with an 18-year monitor document, who ought to be capable of run on his document, working his total marketing campaign with a damaging set of assaults on me, most of them lies?’” McCormick mentioned in direction of the beginning of the talk.
McCormick claimed that Casey typically launched “lies” at him in the course of the debate as a result of he “would not have a monitor document” within the Senate to run on.
Casey shot again in the course of the debate that McCormick has misrepresented himself as a full-fledged Pennsylvanian.
“We have heard a few instances tonight about telling lies, however in all probability the largest lie informed on this complete election, that in all probability most Pennsylvanians have by no means heard a much bigger lie, was the lie when my opponent mentioned he lived in Pennsylvania, when he was dwelling in Connecticut. The Related Press on August the 14th, 2023, did a narrative that proved that he was dwelling in Connecticut,” Casey mentioned.
McCormick defended that he was born in Pennsylvania and has spent “nearly all of my life” there, but additionally lived in Connecticut for years when he served as CEO of Bridgewater Associates.
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Former President Barack Obama (C) joins Senator Bob Casey (D- PA) (L) and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (R) at a marketing campaign rally for Pennsylvania Democrats on September 21, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photograph by Mark Makela/Getty Photographs) (Getty Photographs/Mark Makela)
Casey, McCormick spar over ‘shrinkflation’ vs. inflation
The economic system is among the many high issues for voters in Pennsylvania, in addition to the nation at giant, with each candidates outlining how they’d deal with spiraling inflation if re-elected or elected to the Senate, and what they consider is behind the rise in shoppers’ prices.
“Costs are too excessive, particularly if you go to the grocery retailer to purchase meals or home items, objects that folks want each week, or no less than each different week. And these large conglomerates, these large firms, rig these costs and jack them as much as ranges we have by no means seen, all whereas they’re getting document income,” Casey mentioned, whereas defending his efforts focusing on firms he has accused of “greedflation.”
So-called greedflation is known as firms allegedly exploiting inflation woes by growing costs on shoppers to provide better income.
“We will take it on by passing a value gouging invoice to go after these corporations, maintain them accountable,” Casey mentioned.
The Democratic senator additionally addressed his marketing campaign towards “shrinkflation,” which he defined as firms shrinking merchandise for shoppers whereas not decreasing costs.
Dave McCormick, Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Pennsylvania, speaks at a marketing campaign rally for the Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump at Butler Farm Present Inc. on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Photograph by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs) (Getty Photographs)
“We did a report on shrinkflation, which lined lots of corporations across the nation. And if that is occurring with regard to a Pennsylvania firm or some other firm across the nation, they need to be held accountable. Once they take a product, shrink the contents of the product, or what’s in a bag, and do not shrink the value, that is misleading. That is ripping folks off,” he mentioned, including that such corporations must be held legally accountable.
McCormick shot again that larger prices on Individuals in recent times is because of “uncontrolled spending” by the hands of Casey and different Democrats, together with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden.
“Once you’ve spent your total life in public service, elected workplace, 30 years, you are like a hammer searching for a nail. The reason for inflation is the insurance policies, the out-of-control spending of Biden, Harris and Casey. Bob Casey voted 100% of the time for that $5 trillion of latest spending. The consultants on the time, Larry Summers, the San Francisco Fed, mentioned this may create inflation,” McCormick mentioned.
“Bob Casey would not perceive how the economic system works. That is why he is making an attempt to do all this financial voodoo stuff with value controls,” he later charged.
McCormick, Casey make clear their abortion stances
An abortion-rights demonstrator holds an indication throughout a rally, Could 14, 2022, in Chattanooga, Tenn. (AP)
Casey and McCormick had been each grilled about their present abortion stances in the course of the debate, as abortion as soon as once more sits atop many citizens’ checklist of election issues following the Supreme Courtroom’s 2022 choice to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Casey positioned himself as a pro-life Democrat earlier in his profession, however he voted to codify abortion protections nationwide following the overturning of Roe.
“In 2022, when the Supreme Courtroom overturned a 49-year proper, it overturned Roe v. Wade, I believe everybody needed to decide, together with senators. I decided to assist the Girls’s Well being Safety Act. I do not assist Republican efforts to ban abortion throughout the nation,” Casey mentioned.
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McCormick was questioned about his remarks in 2022 that he helps uncommon exceptions for abortion, similar to when the well being of the mom is in danger, and has since mentioned that he helps extra exceptions for abortion.
“That is a particularly polarizing difficulty. As you understand, I’ve six daughters, so that is one thing we spend time speaking about. I consider this must be a state’s proper. I consider states ought to resolve. Pennsylvania has had a legislation. It has been supported by Democrats and Republicans, like was signed into legislation by the Senator’s father, Governor Casey. I assist the three exceptions. I might not favor an abortion ban of any type,” McCormick responded.
Immigration: Casey requested about sheriff blaming him for son’s fentanyl overdose
Border Patrol picks up a bunch of asylum seekers from an assist camp on the U.S.-Mexico border close to Sasabe, Arizona, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Justin Hamel/Getty Photographs)
Casey lately got here below hearth from a Pennsylvania sheriff who slammed the Democratic senator’s border insurance policies for the inflow of fentanyl into the U.S., which the dad mentioned had led to his son’s demise.
“We will’t convey again the folks we’ve misplaced. However we are able to do away with the weak politicians like Bob Casey who let it occur,” Blair County Sheriff Jim Ott mentioned in a current McCormick marketing campaign advert.
Casey was requested in regards to the sheriff’s remarks throughout his debate Thursday.
“Mr. Casey, the Blair County Sheriff, blames you for the fentanyl demise of his son, saying you haven’t completed sufficient to safe the border. What’s your response to that,” Owens requested.
“I met so many households throughout the state, and whether or not it is a sheriff in Blair County or a mother in Allegheny County, Janet that I met, who talked about her daughter, Brianna, that is an terrible, terrible tragedy for these households. That is why we have to spend money on the methods that we all know work. [McCormick] will not do this, as a result of he is weak within the face of the political strain from his personal get together. . . . We will remedy this drawback by investing within the expertise, hiring hundreds extra Border Patrol, so we are able to examine each single automobile coming throughout the border,” he mentioned.
Amid the immigration debate, McCormick blamed the Biden-Harris administration and Casey for the immigration disaster on the southern border.
“The border disaster is the direct results of the weak point of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. And Bob Casey supported them each second. What chutzpah to run an advert on how powerful he’s on the border, when he voted towards funding for the Border Patrol. He ran an advert in entrance of the wall that he voted towards. He voted for sanctuary cities, he voted for federal advantages for unlawful immigrants. And the fentanyl disaster that is come throughout our border is the direct results of the weak point of Bob Casey not standing as much as these horrible cartels,” McCormick argued.
The pair have agreed to a different debate, subsequent taking the identical stage in Philadelphia on Oct. 15.
Get the most recent updates from the 2024 marketing campaign path, unique interviews and extra at our Fox Information Digital election hub.
