EASTON, Pa. — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey rallied Northampton County Democrats to his re-election effort Wednesday afternoon, painting his campaign against Republican challenger David McCormick as a fight to protect American democracy and stick up for the common man against corporate interests.
Speaking at Weyerbacher Brewing to some of the region's most prominent Democratic leaders, Casey said he would be relying on their support as he seeks a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.
He described the 2024 election cycle as one of the most important of our lifetimes, saying the outcome would determine outcomes essential to American life, including the future of Social Security and Medicare, voting rights, reproductive rights and the right to form a union.
"This is going to be a race where there is no common ground. This is going to be a clear and fundamental choice," Casey said.
Casey said that over the past decade, he's seen the debates in Washington fundamentally shift. Issues that used to have bipartisan support such as protecting voting rights and ensuring access to contraception have faced Republican opposition in recent years. With the Senate so narrowly divided in recent years, Casey said that those bills would have no chance of passing if McCormick wins the race.
Casey also highlighted his efforts to protect working families by going after big corporations engaging in price gouging.
Earlier this year, Casey co-sponsored legislation that would allow the Federal Trade Commission prosecute businesses that charge grossly inflated prices for goods or services. He noted that the Kansas City Federal Reserve found that corporate profits between July 2020 and July 2022 far exceeded the rate of inflation and appear to have contributed to the historic levels of inflation Americans have battled. The European Central Bank reached a similar conclusion last year.
Casey noted that his race — one of the most heavily contested in the nation — has drawn at least $70 million in spending from multiple super PACs. Huge companies aren't happy that he is calling out their unfair business practices and his efforts to let the Trump era tax breaks for corporations and the ultra-wealthy to expire, he said.
In the Lehigh Valley
However, Casey vowed to continue fighting for middle class voters dealing with skyrocketing costs for basic necessities such as groceries and housing.
"I've got news for them. They can bring in any billionaire into this state and they can dump any amount of money on me. I am going to beat them," Casey said to applause from the crowd.
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure credited the Scranton native with protecting the region's vibrant economy. At the height of the pandemic, Casey secured nearly $88 million of funding for Northampton County school districts so they could continue providing lessons for children.
He also brought in tens of millions of dollars for extra funding for Easton and Bethlehem and voted in favor of the CARES Act, which kept hundreds of small businesses afloat through the worst of the pandemic, he said.
McClure recalled that he and Casey donned masks and went door-to-door in the county to raise awareness of the funding available.
"Senator, in no small way thanks to your work in the United States Senate, those small businesses are open and thriving today, and we thank you," McClure said.
During his remarks, Casey called McCormick's trustworthiness into question, saying there were inconsistencies in his opponent's biography. He criticized McCormick as a carpetbagger; the Associated Press found he lived in Connecticut as recently as last year. He also attacked McCormick for describing himself as a self-made businessman; McCormick grew up on the campus of what's now Bloomsburg University, where his father was president.
"I don't know why he came up with this Abe Lincoln story," said Casey, himself the son of a former governor. "We were both damn lucky. I don't know why he would lie about that, but he did."
McCormick on offensive
But McCormick has been attacking Casey's honesty of late, too. President Joe Biden's halting delivery and muddled responses at last week's CNN debate have sparked questions about his ability to serve another term, even among some prominent Democrats.
McCormick has taken the offensive, going on cable news to accuse Casey of lying to Pennsylvanians' about Biden's mental prowess.
Following the debate, Casey has defended the president while acknowledging his poor showing. He did so again with reporters Wednesday, saying voters know where the candidates stand.
Casey said that both he and Biden are facing opponents who have been backed by far-right extremists and insurrectionists.
"People know that there's going to a choice in the election — at the presidential level and in the Senate race — between candidates who support giving away more tax breaks to corporations and billionaires or those who want to support the middle class and workers," Casey said, adding that he would see the president this weekend.
About 50 people, including Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and Northampton County Controller Tara Zrinski, attended Casey's event and nodded in agreement and applauded his efforts to protect organized labor and reproductive rights.
After Casey's comments, former Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan volunteered to hold a fundraiser on Casey's behalf.
