Casey and McCormick take U.S. Senate showdown to television with first ads

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Republican David McCormick won’t face off at the polls until November, but the general election campaign hit the airwaves in the Keystone State this week.

Casey, who is seeking his fourth term in the Senate, released his first ad  Thursday, a 30-second spot that promotes the bipartisan legislation he sponsored to provide benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure to burn pits.

“Bob Casey worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass the burn pits bill into law,” Chad Baer, U.S. Army veteran says in the ad. “Now, we get the benefits we’ve earned. I’m grateful Bob Casey has our back.”

The PACT Act passed the U.S. Senate and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. 

During a press call on Thursday, Baer said he began regular interaction with Casey’s office in 2019 regarding burn pits and toxic exposure, and said his support was integral in getting the legislation across the finish line. Casey has also backed other legislation to support veterans during his time in office, Baer said. 

“I’m not a party line voter. Bob Casey earned my support,” Baer said on the call with reporters. “He went above and beyond for the veteran community.”

McCormick launched his campaign’s first ad on Tuesday, highlighting his roots wrestling in Pennsylvania. 

“Pennsylvania wrestling taught me to do the hard thing. Hard work. Hard choices. The Pennsylvania way,” McCormick says in the ad. “That’s not what we get from Washington. The career politicians don’t do the hard work.”

McCormick was co-captain of the wrestling team at Bloomsburg Area High School, finishing fourth place in the state, and was a PIAA District 4 champion before he wrestled at West Point, where he was the co-captain of the Army Wrestling Team. McCormick is a combat veteran. 

McCormick sought the GOP U.S. Senate nomination in 2022, but lost to Mehmet Oz in the GOP primary by less than 1,000 votes. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Oz in that primary race.

The ad wars began earlier in the 2022 race between McCormick and Oz, since it was a contested primary for the GOP nomination. This year, McCormick will be the only Republican candidate on the primary ballot for U.S. Senate, while Casey will be the only Democrat. 

With control of the U.S. Senate on the line, the race between Casey and McCormick will be one of the most expensive in the nation.

In addition to expected outside spending, both candidates have already raised millions this cycle. Casey’s campaign entered January with $9.43 million cash on hand, while McCormick’s campaign had $4.17 million on hand.

Casey and McCormick have made pointed attacks at each other already, linking the other to their party’s presumptive presidential candidates – President Joe Biden and Trump.

An Emerson College poll conducted between March 10-13 showed Casey leading McCormick by 4 points. 

The Cook Political Report, a national ratings outlet, says the race leans Democratic.