Trump makes major endorsement in crucial Senate race in key battleground state

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Former President Donald Trump is backing Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania – after throwing his help to a unique candidate throughout McCormick’s first run for the Senate two years in the past.

“I am officially giving my endorsement to David McCormick tonight. He’s a good a man. He wants to run a good ship. He’s a smart guy, who was a very successful guy. He’s given up a lot to do this,” Trump declared on Saturday, as he spoke at a big rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

McCormick, a former hedge fund govt, West Point graduate, Gulf War fight veteran and Treasury Department official in former President George W. Bush’s administration, launched his second Senate bid final 12 months. He’s operating unopposed in the crucial battleground state’s April 23 major and can face off in November towards longtime Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr.

“I’ll tell you what: He’s the nominee of the Republican Party, David McCormick. Go out and vote for him because Casey doesn’t do a damn thing,” Trump emphasised.

FIRST ON FOX: MCCORMICK SHOWCASES MAJOR FUNDRAISING HAUL IN KEY SENATE SHOWDOWN

Donald Trump endorses Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania's 2024 Senate race

Former U.S. President Donald Trump greets attendees throughout a marketing campaign occasion in Schnecksville, Pa., Saturday, April 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti) (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)

Casey, the son of a well-liked former governor, served a decade as Pennsylvania’s auditor basic after which treasurer earlier than successful election to the Senate in 2006.

The Senate race in Pennsylvania is one among a handful throughout the nation that may doubtless resolve if the Republicans win again the bulk in the chamber.

Democrats at the moment management the U.S. Senate with a 51-49 majority, however Republicans are a good Senate map this 12 months, with Democrats defending 23 of the 34 seats up for grabs. 

Three of these seats are in crimson states that Trump carried in his 2020 election defeat to President Biden — Ohio, Montana and West Virginia, the place Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin just isn’t operating for re-election. And Pennsylvania is one among 5 key basic election battlegrounds the place the Democrats are defending seats. Democrats may have to fret about holding the open Senate seat in blue Maryland, the place former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan is operating.

TRUMP, BIDEN, MAKE DUELING TRIPS TO THIS CRUCIAL BATTLEGROUND STATE

McCormick was not at Saturday’s rally. His marketing campaign advised Fox News the candidate had a beforehand scheduled household dedication that he made lengthy earlier than Trump lately introduced his rally in Schnecksville, which is situated in the Lehigh Valley, a extremely aggressive a part of the northeastern swing state.

Following the rally, McCormick thanked Trump for the endorsement in a social media publish.

“Thank you, President Trump,”, he stated. “Together we will deliver a big win for Pennsylvania and America in November.”

Dave McCormick hauls in $6.2 million the past three months in his bid for Senate in the Keystone State

Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick launches a marketing campaign bus tour, in Lititz, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 10, 2024 (Dave McCormick marketing campaign)

McCormick was a part of a crowded and flamable battle for the 2022 GOP nomination. He ended up shedding the nomination by a razor-thin margin to celeb physician and cardiac surgeon Mehmet Oz, who secured a major victory due to a late endorsement from Trump. Oz ended up shedding the final election to Democrat John Fetterman.

“I don’t know David well, and he may be a nice guy, but he’s not MAGA,” Trump stated of McCormick on the time, as he referred to his legions of Make America Great Again loyalists and supporters.

This time round, McCormick faces no major opposition in the GOP major. He is backed by longtime Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell and the Pennsylvania GOP, and was inspired to run by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the celebration’s Senate marketing campaign arm.

McCormick endorsed Trump early final month after the previous president scored major victories in the coast to coast Super Tuesday contests and Nikki Haley – Trump’s final remaining rival for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination – dropped out of the White House race.

Trump’s go to to Pennsylvania is his third this 12 months. He made a Feb. 9 cease in Harrisburg to handle NRA members gathered on the group’s Great American Outdoor Show. Days later, he made an uncommon cease in Philadelphia at ‘Sneaker Con’ – a major commerce present – to hawk new Trump-branded sneakers. 

Pennsylvania is one among six battleground states the place Biden narrowly edged Trump in the presidential election 4 years in the past to seize the White House.

Most of the newest public opinion polls in Pennsylvania counsel a detailed contest between Biden and Trump for the state’s 19 electoral votes.

The president returns to the state the place he was born on Tuesday, for 3 days of occasions in Pennsylvania, the place his political advisers say Biden goals to highlight his plans to boost taxes for the wealthiest Americans and companies as he paints contrasts with Trump on financial points.

President Biden speaks at podium in Pennsylvania

President Joe Biden speaks at a marketing campaign occasion at Strath Haven Middle School in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, on March 8, 2024. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu by way of Getty Images) (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu by way of Getty Images)

Biden kicks off the three-day swing with a speech in Scranton, the place he spent a part of his childhood. The president has repeatedly returned to the working-class metropolis in northeastern Pennsylvania as he is made populist pitches to Americans.

The president will head to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, adopted by a marketing campaign occasion Thursday in Philadelphia. Biden’s swing via Pennsylvania will come as Trump makes historical past as the primary present or former president in the nation’s historical past to go on trial.

Trump’s hush-money trial will get underway Monday in a New York City courtroom.

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The former president – who’s being tried on 34 state felony costs – is accused of falsifying enterprise data in relation to hush-money funds through the 2016 election he made to Stormy Daniels to maintain quiet about his alleged affair with the grownup movie actress.

Trump has repeatedly denied falsifying enterprise data in addition to the alleged sexual encounter with Daniels.

Get the newest updates from the 2024 marketing campaign path, unique interviews and extra at our Fox News Digital election hub



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