McCormick Energized by Statewide Listening Tour

MATAMORAS, PA - In a hard-fought campaign for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, Republican challenger Dave McCormick says his 67-county bus tour across the state has left him energized and motivated by the stories and concerns of voters.

The combat veteran and former hedge fund manager, running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, made connecting with Pennsylvanians in every corner of the commonwealth a centerpiece of his campaign strategy.

"Talking with voters in places where few statewide candidates stop to listen is both energizing and motivating," McCormick told reporters at the final stop of his tour at Goodfella's Pizza Italian Restaurant in Pike County. "Everyone has a story, and that grit, entrepreneurship and perseverance are such common characteristics of people across Pennsylvania."

However, McCormick added that he was disheartened to hear how government policies seem designed to "drag them down or crush that spirit."

The top issues he heard about time and again were economic concerns like inflation and the impacts of illegal immigration and drug smuggling across the southern border.

"The two big things are inflation and the border crisis, which are having profound, tangible effects on how people live their daily lives," McCormick said. "A stunning number of Pennsylvanians told me they are living paycheck to paycheck, squeezed by rising costs for food, fuel and rent."

In fact, a recent report found over 41% of Pennsylvania households are living paycheck to paycheck, with wage growth failing to keep up with inflation. Far too many families are "possibly one emergency room visit or one failed transmission from poverty, struggling to afford basic necessities," the candidate warned.

McCormick also cited the opioid crisis as a major concern linked to the border situation, noting that over 3,000 Pennsylvanians died from drug overdoses last year, mostly involving the synthetic opioid fentanyl being smuggled across the southern border.

"These problems, and the weak leadership and policies of President Biden that Senator Casey supports 98% of the time, are really hurting Pennsylvanians across our state," the Republican stated.

The campaign's crisscrossing of all 67 counties, logging over 42,000 miles, allowed McCormick to experience Pennsylvania's rich diversity of industries, natural resources and historical significance.

"Whether it's the timber industry, powdered metals, the dairy business or so many others that make vital products for our daily lives, I was struck by the unique personalities of each of these counties and communities," he reflected.

Ultimately, McCormick believes the key voting bloc will be middle-class Pennsylvanians of all backgrounds who are fed up with the economic and security impacts of the current administration's policies.

"Their problems centered on inflation and the fentanyl crisis don't come down to party or race - they're everybody's problems," he stated. "Having the chance to listen to them directly is so important, because people feel much worse off in the last three years and are desperate for change."

With the campaign trail journey completed, McCormick now awaits the voters' verdict on whether his message of supporting working families resonated enough to capture the pivotal Senate seat.