thank you so much for your
insight.
We appreciate it.
The race to fill the open senate
seat in Pennsylvania could be an
early test of the Democrats' new
messaging strategy.
It's already one of the most
hotly-contested elections this
year.
Just days before the primary,
Republican and democratic
candidates are kicking their
campaigns into high gear to turn
out the party faithful.
Lisa Desjardins reports.
Lisa: Look at Pennsylvania as a
magnificent map of national
politics right now, and the
rough terrain ahead in the fight
for the U.S. Senate.
With the word "Fight" most
prominent on the right, where
frontrunners are battling over
who is most conservative.
Mr. Mccormick: Thank you all for
being here.
Lisa: Republican businessman
David Mccormick is trying to
channel Donald Trump, stressing
America first on things like
immigration, jobs and trade.
Mr. Mccormick: I'm gonna fight
for pro-growth economic
policies, deregulation, fair
trade agenda.
Lisa: But the former president
sees himself in someone else.
Another former TV celebrity, Dr.
Mehmet oz, whose show aired
nationally for over a decade.
A lifelong Republican, oz's
opinions on issues like guns and
abortion have changed over his
years in public life.
Mr. Trump: I'd like to have Dr.
Oz come up and say a few words.
Lisa: In this campaign, oz has
embraced trump's policies and
won likability points from some.
Dr. Oz: Do we love president
trump, Pennsylvania?
Lisa: The two men have funneled
their vast personal fortunes
into an onslaught of TV ads, at
least $24 million combined.
>> Greedy businessman Mccormick
cut Pittsburgh jobs.
>> Mehmet oz, a complete and
total fraud.
Lisa: The attacks of one another
continued on stage.
Dr. Oz: Dishonest Dave is at it
again.
Mr. Mccormick: I want to say say
memet has flip-flopped on every
major issue.
Lisa: But as the two cast each
other as opportunistic...
>> I'd like to introduce you to
Kathy Barnette.
Lisa: ...An opportunity opened
for someone else.
Ms. Barnette: Hey guys.
Thank you so much for coming.
Lisa: Just this month, political
commentator Kathy Barnette has
surged, with polls showing her
in a three-way tie for first.
Barnette is also a longtime
anti-abortion activist, whose
personal story being born out of
rape is resonating with
conservatives.
Ms. Barnette: My family saw
value in my life.
I'm very grateful for that.
We have people that look at the
constitution as if it's a list
of suggestions.
Lisa: On Friday, president trump
put out a statement saying she
can't win, but he also praised
her.
What did you think about Mr.
Trump's statement?
Ms. Barnette: We know that
president trump did not mix
words.
I think that letter was
favorable.
And I look forward to working
with the president.
Katie: She does have room to
just get this last minute
momentum.
Lisa: Katie Meyer covers state
politics for WHYY and met us at
club house diner.
I asked her about Barnette's
chances in the fall.
Katie: I think anybody who sees
somebody who's more extreme, or
not somebody who is, as trump
said, not vetted, like Barnette,
they think "Okay, that's like a
pretty easy target."
However, we've seen that be
totally wrong before.
>> Mr. John Fetterman!
Lisa: Which brings us to
Democrats, and another unusual
candidate.
Lt. Gov. Fetterman: Wow, thank
you for coming out.
Lisa: Pennsylvania's lieutenant
governor John Fetterman looks
like a wrestler and campaigns
like Bernie Sanders.
Fetterman gained attention as
mayor of Braddock, a
hollowed-out steel town he
helped revitalize.
He's pro-immigration, supports
universal health care, and
legalizing marijuana.
His main opponent?
Congressman Conor lamb.
Lamb became a democratic
superstar in 2018 when he
flipped a previously Republican
seat.
He has some strong union support
but has been outstepped and, in
money, outmatched by Fetterman.
Lamb's supporters think only a
moderate can win the entire
state.
>> I'm more concerned about who
will be able to win against
whatever Republican candidate is
presented in November.
Lisa: But Fetterman is far in
front in polls and his kind of
that and his supporters argue --
and his supporters argue his
kind of Democrat a blue collar
Progressive is the right one for
Pennsylvania.
>> I love that he's so
consistent.
He doesn't shift his message,
and I think people really
appreciate that.
Lisa: Pennsylvania is one of the
few swing states left.
The past two decades, voters
have sent mostly moderates to
the U.S. Senate.
But those days may be numbered.
The primaries in this state are
moving away from the middle,
more right and left.
For pbs news weekend, I'm Lisa
Desjardins in mcveytown,
Pennsylvania.
Geoff: This afternoon,
democratic candidate John
Fetterman announced he had a