The Pennsylvania Senate race is becoming increasingly heated, with immigration and the fentanyl crisis emerging as central themes. Republican candidate Dave McCormick is launching a fierce attack against incumbent Democrat Bob Casey, accusing him of failing to secure the southern border and address the devastating fentanyl epidemic plaguing the state.
McCormick’s campaign has unveiled a new ad featuring Blair County Sheriff Jim Ott, who tragically lost his son to a fentanyl overdose. In a poignant message, Ott directly connects the fentanyl crisis to the open border, arguing that his son might still be alive if the border were secure. “If the border was secure, chances are my son would be alive today,” Ott states in the ad. “We can’t bring back the people we’ve lost. But we can get rid of the weak politicians like Bob Casey who let it happen.” The $2.2 million ad will run statewide on television and digital platforms, aiming to capitalize on the growing public concern about the fentanyl epidemic.
Labor Day, a traditionally pivotal moment for voters to solidify their choices, is less than ten weeks away from the presidential election. While recent polls show Casey leading McCormick, GOP strategists believe voters will start paying closer attention and rally behind the Republican candidate as the election draws nearer. However, McCormick faces the challenge of overcoming low name recognition and a popular incumbent in a race that is drawing considerable attention nationwide.
Recent polling by Fox News indicates the importance of immigration as a key issue not just nationally, but also in Pennsylvania. A July survey found that immigration was the second most important issue for Pennsylvania voters, with 16% of respondents ranking it as their top concern. The economy, at 39%, topped the list of voters’ priorities. The presidential race in this pivotal battleground state is also expected to influence the Senate election, potentially benefiting McCormick if former President Trump succeeds in winning Pennsylvania.
In response to McCormick’s attack on his immigration record, Casey’s campaign spokesperson, Kate Smart, issued a statement to Fox News Digital. Smart emphasizes Casey’s collaborative efforts with law enforcement to curb the flow of fentanyl, pointing to bipartisan legislation he has passed to impose sanctions on Chinese fentanyl producers. However, Smart also criticizes McCormick’s past business dealings, referencing his time as CEO of Bridgewater Associates from 2020 to 2022. Public records from the Department of Labor indicate that as of 2021, Bridgewater Associates had invested nearly $1.7 million in Humanwell, a Chinese pharmaceutical company, across seven different hedge funds.
While Humanwell produces medical-grade opiates, it is not one of the companies identified by the United States as a producer of chemical fentanyl precursors, which are illegally transported across the southern border. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, illicit fentanyl, predominantly manufactured in foreign clandestine labs and smuggled into the United States through Mexico, is the primary cause of the surge in overdose deaths related to synthetic opioids.
The Pennsylvania Senate race is poised to become a fierce battleground as both candidates attempt to leverage immigration and the fentanyl crisis to sway voters in the lead-up to the election.
