Trump-backed challenger, longtime Dem senator face off in heated battleground debate
Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick faced off in their first debate in the closely watched battleground Pennsylvania Senate race. The debate, held on Thursday evening, highlighted the competitive nature and significant implications of the race, which could influence the power dynamics in Washington.
Both candidates traded barbs over various issues, including the economy, inflation, immigration, and abortion. Casey questioned McCormick’s residency and his background as a hedge fund manager, while McCormick labeled Casey as a lifetime politician who merely follows Democratic leadership.
Casey pointed out that McCormick was living in Connecticut while claiming to be a Pennsylvania resident, a claim McCormick dismissed as a lie. McCormick criticized Casey for his vote on the Iran nuclear agreement during the Obama administration, stating that it granted Iran $100 billion in sanction relief, which has been used to finance terrorism.
The candidates also disagreed on abortion policies, with Casey advocating for federal protections and McCormick supporting state management of the issue. On immigration, Casey supported the Biden administration’s policies and criticized McCormick for opposing a bipartisan border bill that included measures to hire more customs agents and bolster investigations into fentanyl trafficking.
The debate reflected the close nature of the race, with recent polls indicating that Casey and McCormick are in a closely contested race that could significantly influence which party controls the narrowly divided Senate in the upcoming elections.
