Pennsylvania Senate debate/ Bob Casey vs David McCormick/ 2024 Senate election Pennsylvania/ Casey McCormick debate highlights/ Pennsylvania swing state race/ Newslooks/ HARRISBURG/ PENNSYLVANIA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In a heated debate, Senator Bob Casey and challenger David McCormick sparred over key issues in Pennsylvania’s high-stakes Senate race. Each accused the other of poor leadership and dishonesty, with sharp exchanges over jobs, immigration, and ties to China. The race is crucial in determining Senate control.
Pennsylvania Senate Debate Quick Looks
- Combative tone: Both candidates, Bob Casey and David McCormick, accused each other of dishonesty, with personal attacks dominating the debate.
- Key issues: The candidates clashed over energy policies, the sale of U.S. Steel, and McCormick’s hedge fund investments in China.
- Political stakes: The outcome of this race could impact Senate control, as it’s one of the most expensive races in the nation.
- Debate highlights: Casey criticized McCormick for his ties to China and suggested he couldn’t stand up to Trump, while McCormick labeled Casey a weak career politician.
Pennsylvania Senate Debate Heats Up: Casey vs. McCormick
Deep Look
The first debate in Pennsylvania’s crucial Senate race between Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Casey and Republican challenger David McCormick set a combative tone as both candidates clashed on major issues. This swing-state contest could play a pivotal role in deciding which party controls the Senate, raising the stakes for each candidate’s performance.
The debate, held on Thursday night, quickly descended into a war of words, with each candidate leveling personal attacks. Casey, aiming for a fourth term in the Senate, portrayed McCormick as an out-of-touch, wealthy former hedge fund CEO who spent years outside of Pennsylvania. McCormick, in turn, characterized Casey as a “do-nothing” career politician who votes in lockstep with President Joe Biden.
One of the primary lines of attack for Casey revolved around McCormick’s previous hedge fund investments in Chinese companies, some of which were later linked to Beijing’s military and surveillance sectors. Casey used this to question McCormick’s commitment to American jobs and security. In contrast, McCormick repeatedly pointed out that Casey has aligned with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in nearly 99% of Senate votes, framing him as a rubber stamp for the administration’s policies.
A particularly fiery exchange occurred when both candidates agreed on opposing the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel but diverged sharply on how to assign blame for the failed Mon Valley Works project. McCormick blamed Casey for not securing the necessary environmental permits, which he said led to the cancellation of a $1.5 billion upgrade project for the steel plant. McCormick seized on this point to argue that Casey’s leadership had cost Pennsylvania jobs.
In response, Casey fired back, reminding voters that McCormick lived in Connecticut for 12 years during his time as a hedge fund executive. “He doesn’t have standing to talk about what should have been done in Pennsylvania,” Casey retorted. The sharp tone continued as McCormick accused Casey of being a weak senator, a liberal politician, and a career figure only interested in holding onto his seat.
McCormick also linked Casey to the failure of immigration reform, a key Republican issue. He argued that Casey lacked the strength to back tough policies, especially in the face of opposition from former President Donald Trump. McCormick pledged his support for Trump’s plan to deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records while claiming he would protect Social Security and Medicare.
On the filibuster, the candidates were again at odds. Casey advocated for its removal, claiming it obstructs votes on crucial legislation such as voting rights and women’s rights. He suggested that the filibuster allowed for gridlock on major policy issues. In contrast, McCormick defended the filibuster, arguing that it promotes moderation and prevents extreme policies from being rushed through the Senate.
The debate touched on several additional issues, with both candidates showing limited agreement on certain policies. For instance, both expressed support for tariffs to protect industries like steel and aluminum but disagreed on broader economic and legislative tactics. McCormick touted his experience in the business world and stressed the need to extend the tax cuts passed under Trump, while Casey painted these moves as a giveaway to billionaires.
At 64, Casey is one of Pennsylvania’s most prominent politicians, having served as state auditor general and treasurer before becoming the state’s longest-serving Senate Democrat. He has anchored his campaign on traditional Democratic pillars like labor rights, voting rights, and abortion access, which he claims are under threat from McCormick and Trump.
McCormick, a 59-year-old businessman and military veteran, is making his second attempt at a Senate seat. After narrowly losing the Republican primary in 2022 to Dr. Mehmet Oz, McCormick has returned with a more aggressive campaign, leveraging his ties to the Trump administration and presenting himself as a strong conservative who can appeal to moderates.
The two candidates will face off again in a second debate on October 15 in Philadelphia. Other candidates on the November 5 ballot include Libertarian John Thomas, Green Party candidate Leila Hazou, and Constitution Party representative Marty Selker. However, none were invited to participate in this debate.
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