President Biden’s decision to suspend his re-election campaign and endorse Vice President Harris has caused a stir in the political landscape, especially for down-ballot candidates like U.S. Senate hopeful Dave McCormick. McCormick recently toured a natural gas plant in Warren, Pennsylvania, to highlight his support for “all of the above energy” policies in contrast to Harris’ previous anti-fracking stance.
McCormick wasted no time in seizing on Harris’ past statements against fracking, releasing an ad that portrays her as the “most liberal presidential nominee in U.S. history.” The ad, which will air during the Olympics in key Pennsylvania markets, aims to position Casey’s endorsement of Harris as out of touch with the needs of Pennsylvanians.
Former President Trump and McCormick have both emphasized their commitment to American energy independence and criticized Harris for her anti-fracking remarks. However, the Harris campaign has since clarified her position on fracking, accusing Trump of spreading misinformation to distract from his own policies favoring oil and gas executives.
During his visit to Bull Run Energy in Warren, McCormick emphasized the importance of understanding the realities of small gas and oil operations in order to legislate effectively on Pennsylvania’s energy economy. He outlined his “Keystone Agenda,” which focuses on unleashing Pennsylvania’s energy potential, removing restrictions on gas and oil projects, and promoting energy independence and national security.
In response, the Casey campaign defended the senator’s record on responsible fracking and criticized McCormick for his alleged ties to China and support for controversial policies. The race between McCormick and Casey represents two opposing views on energy, economy, and national security, with McCormick positioning himself as a pro-energy candidate against what he perceives as harmful regulations proposed by the Biden-Harris administration.
Overall, the Senate race in Pennsylvania is shaping up to be a battleground between competing visions for the state’s energy future. McCormick’s focus on unleashing Pennsylvania’s natural resources and promoting energy independence contrasts with Casey’s emphasis on responsible fracking and corporate accountability. Voters will have a clear choice between these two candidates with diverging views on how to lead the state forward in the energy sector.