HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican challenger David McCormick will meet Tuesday night for their second debate, with control of the Senate at stake and tens of millions of dollars pouring into the race every week .
During their first debate two weeks ago, Casey tried to convey the message that McCormick is a wealthy ex-hedge fund executive who got rich at the expense of Americans and will serve the interests of billionaires.
McCormick painted Casey as a weak, do-nothing career politician who will vote with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris almost 100% of the time.
Voting by mail has already begun in the crucial swing state seat, and the outcome of this race, one of the most expensive in the country, could help determine which party controls the closely divided Senate.
Casey, perhaps Pennsylvania’s best-known politician, is seeking a fourth term in what he calls his toughest reelection challenge yet.
Casey, 64, has supported Biden’s major initiatives, including his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, and is a staunch ally of labor unions. The former state auditor general and treasurer has won six statewide elections and is Pennsylvania’s longest-serving Democrat in the Senate. He has campaigned on preserving the middle class, abortion rights, labor rights and voting rights – calling McCormick and former President Donald Trump a threat to all of these people.
McCormick, 59, is making his second run for Senate after narrowly losing to Dr. in the 2022 Republican primary. Mehmet Oz. He was CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, served on Trump’s Defense Advisory Council and held top positions under President George W. Bush. These included posts as Undersecretary of Commerce, charged with policy on controlling exports of sensitive technologies, and as Undersecretary of the Treasury Department, as the government tried to avoid bank failures during the recession.
McCormick supports Trump’s pledge to expand the tax cuts he signed in 2017 and carry out a mass deportation of immigrants in the country without permission — prioritizing those with criminal records. McCormick also opposes abortion rights, but said he would not vote for a national abortion ban.
Issues surrounding border policy and the war between Israel and Hamas feature prominently in the race.
Democrats currently hold a majority in the Senate by the narrowest of margins, but face a difficult 2024 Senate map.
More than $190 million has been spent on this one race so far, according to disclosures to the Federal Election Commission. The total is on track to exceed $320 million, based on AdImpact’s tracking of campaign ads, including seats reserved between now and Election Day.
The 60-minute debate will air starting at 7 p.m. and will be hosted by WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, which will broadcast it live. Univision 65 in Philadelphia will simulcast it with Spanish language translation. Both stations will stream it live online, as will ABC News Live and Univision’s VIX.
Both Casey and McCormick were uncontested because of their party’s nominations. Also on the ballot in this race are John Thomas of the Libertarian Party, Leila Hazou of the Green Party and Marty Selker of the Constitution Party. They were not invited to the debate.
___
Follow Marc Levy twitter.com/timelywriter.
