Former President Donald Trump returns to Pennsylvania for a campaign rally ahead of his hush money trial in New York, but notably absent is the expected Republican nominee for Senate, Dave McCormick. Trump has been hesitant to endorse McCormick, who is running unopposed in the GOP primary to challenge Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. While Trump has endorsed candidates backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee in other swing states, he has not yet formally backed a candidate in Pennsylvania.
Trump’s resistance to endorsing McCormick has puzzled some of his allies, despite McCormick facing no primary opponents. A campaign adviser noted that while there wasn’t an immediate push to support McCormick, there is no dislike towards him and there are plans to eventually work with him. The lack of an early endorsement may be due to a fraught history between Trump and McCormick, dating back to McCormick’s failed primary bid in 2022 against Mehmet Oz.
During McCormick’s 2022 Senate campaign, he met with Trump in hopes of an endorsement or neutrality in the primary, but Trump ultimately endorsed Oz instead. This time around, McCormick has not sought Trump’s endorsement, with some speculating that it may not greatly benefit him given their differences in profile. Trump himself has hinted at their differences, suggesting that McCormick is not “pro-Trump.”
McCormick acknowledged during a 2023 event that Trump could pose a threat if he ran for public office again, recognizing the potential impact of Trump “going negative” on his candidacy. Despite McCormick’s endorsement of Trump last month, he has remained neutral in the GOP presidential primary, which has hindered his chances of receiving Trump’s support. McCormick believes that any successful GOP candidate in Pennsylvania must appeal to both Trump loyalists and moderate Republicans.
Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania is focusing on winning back the state, along with Michigan and Wisconsin, which Biden flipped in 2020. Messaging around the economy, inflation, and immigration are expected to be central themes in Trump’s rally remarks. In addition to these issues, Trump may also continue to push baseless claims of election fraud, a key focus for his campaign. Recent polls show a tight race between Trump and Biden in Pennsylvania.
Trump has been less active on the campaign trail since becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, focusing more on private fundraisers to narrow the financial gap with Biden. His campaign rally in Pennsylvania will be his last before jury selection begins in his hush money trial in New York. The timing of the rally, just before the trial, is significant, as it offers a preview of the balancing act his team will need to maintain between legal matters and the campaign trail. After the rally, Trump will head to New York City for preparations with his legal team on court protocol and messaging for the trial.
