Despite having just pulled off an improbable victory with Glenn Youngkin’s win in Virginia on Tuesday, the Republican Party is already at odds with itself, at least in one key race.
Instead of focusing on the important campaign issues, Pennsylvania Republicans are trying to recruit a new candidate to run for Senate – despite the fact that there is already a strong candidate in the race who has been endorsed by President Trump.
The GOP’s preferred candidate is businessman and former Treasury Department official David McCormick.
McCormick would also be a carpetbagger: He lives in Connecticut, not Pennsylvania.
Connecticut resident urged to seek Pennsylvania Senate seat, Republicans eye top investment CEO for Senate primary https://t.co/bMMrcLOJOH via @politico
— Kevin Rennie (@DailyRuctions) November 5, 2021
Curious Situation
Many Republicans running for office in 2022 are looking for the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. In September, Trump endorsed current Pennsylvania Senate candidate Sean Parnell.
However, Parnell is dealing with allegations of domestic abuse by his former wife in the midst of a custody battle. Parnell has denied any wrongdoing, but image is everything in politics.
Interestingly, McCormick has his own ties to Trump. His wife Dina Powell McCormick served as deputy national security advisor in the Trump administration.
The other declared candidate is Carla Sands, who also has ties to Trump. Sands served as Ambassador to Denmark during the Trump administration.
Republicans are pressing hedge fund CEO and Army veteran David McCormick to jump into the Pennsylvania Senate race out of concern that the current candidates aren’t strong enough
Via @SaysSimonson https://t.co/rvgu6kNm6r
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) November 4, 2021
Get Trump?
Enter David McCormick. He has a pretty impressive resume. He is from the Pittsburgh area, a West Point grad, attended Army Ranger school, served in the Gulf War, and received a Bronze Star. He is a Princeton grad with a Ph. D. and served in the top level of the Treasury Department in the George W. Bush administration.
For his part, Parnell is an Army veteran who spent over a year fighting in Afghanistan in the 10th Mountain Division.
Republicans will be looking for those who can do what he did, bring in independents, suburban voters, and women, but also some cross-over Democrats who can’t square with the radical agenda being touted by so many Democrat candidates.
The unspoken desire of top GOP brass in Pennsylvania however is, do all of that minus Trump.
What Pennsylvania Republicans, or any where else for that matter will not be able to get away from, is the fact that Glenn Youngkin also won because of support from the base of the Republican Party, which still very much supports Donald Trump.
Hedge fund manager may jump into 2022 PA Senate Republican primaryhttps://t.co/u4edhVWVFB
— Nick Field (@nick_field90) November 5, 2021
Top PA Republicans Are All In
David McCormick does get glowing remarks from top Pennsylvania GOP officials who think he could pull off a win if he does run.
Republican National Committeeman in Pennsylvania Christine Toretti said,“I think he would be the best shot we have for the Republican Party. I find his candidacy very intriguing.”
Former spokesman for the state Republican Party Greg Manz, also a veteran of both Trump campaigns said, “David McCormick will quickly emerge as the frontrunner. His public policy bona fides are second to none and he will showcase a preeminent fundraising prowess.”
It seems the GOP at large has some deciding to do when it comes to whether or not they will try to squeeze Trump out.
ICYMI: CNN ranks Pennsylvania Senate seat as most likely to flip in 2022https://t.co/b2h3STUpwe
— Pittsburgh City Paper (@PGHCityPaper) July 16, 2021
This article was originally published by The Political Insider. Read the original article.
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