Fresh off of attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Senator Bob Casey was back on the campaign trail in Bucks County, hosting a rally at the Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co. in Croydon on Monday.
And Governor Josh Shapiro was there to emphasize the importance of this race and the role Bucks County will play in November’s election.
“Bucks County is not only the swingiest of all swing counties in the swingest of all swing states, and I mean that only in the political sense,” Shapiro told the crowd of about 150 supporters. “But it is also the county that is going to determine who is in the leadership of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.”
One of the first speakers of the day, Ashley Ehasz, knows all about the importance of the House race. Ehasz is currently running as the democratic candidate in PA’s 1st Congressional District against incumbent Republican Brian Fitzpatrick. Ehasz used the majority of her speech to attack Senator Casey’s opponent, Dave McCormick, who in the 2022 U.S. senate election lost the Republican nomination to Dr. Oz.
“In the military, I flew Apache helicopters overseas in war zones in deadly missions to protect America’s freedoms. And in the army, we have a saying. And it’s, ‘I’ve got your six.’ And in combat when someone says I’ve got your six, it means keep your sights forward, because I’ve got your back. And as our senator, my friend, Bob Casey, has always had the backs of every Pennsylvanian,” she said.
Ehasz then spent time highlighting Casey’s record, including voting for the PACT Act, which expanded health care rights to Veterans who were exposed to chemicals such as agent orange and burn pits, and as Ehasz put it, “standing up against extremists in Congress who want to pass a national abortion ban.” Ehasz then noted how voters can’t trust McCormick, or Fitzpatrick, to have their backs.
When Casey got his chance on stage, he emphasized that a lot of voters’ rights are on the line with this election. the differences between where he and McCormick stand on some of the most important issues.
“This race, in a large measure, is about rights and fights,” said Casey. “The right to vote in democracy is on the ballot in this race and in every race. Women’s rights are on the ballot like never before in our history. Worker’s rights as well. And on all those issues, whether its supporting the voting rights legislation, or whether its supporting the women’s health protection act, or whether its supporting the PRO Act, to support working men and women and making sure they have a right to organize, and it’s protected and even strengthened, I’m on one side, and my opponent is on the other. He will never vote for any of those bills, to protect voting rights, women’s rights, and workers rights.”
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Casey also listed how Democrats, like him, have delivered for Bucks County, ranging from school funding, to $35 per month caps on insulin, and passing the aforementioned PACT Act and the ABLE Act which helps families save money for members with disabilities.
Governor Shaprio, the last speaker of the day, made very clear why he thought Casey deserves to be reelected.
“One of the reasons I think Bob Casey is so effective is because he still shows up in places like Croydon,” said Shapiro. “He still gets in his car, and he shows up in communities big and small. Places where you got tall buildings lining the streets, and places where you got one story buildings lining our mainstreets. Rural, urban, and suburban communities, Bob Casey shows up. He is authentically Pennsylvanian. And when he shows up, he does something that most elected officials don’t do. He listens.”
Shapiro also took a shot at McCormick for the often mentioned criticism that McCormick spends most of his time in Connecticut. “When you go vote for Bob Casey, you get a great United States Senator who fights for us everyday. Who knows where Croydon is, and doesn’t need to take a private jet to get here!” McCormick was born in Bloomsburg, P.A., and owns a home in Pittsburgh, which is the same city he started FreeMarkets, an internet auctioning house he sold for $500 million in 2004. However, the fact he owns a $16 million mansion in Connecticut, and refuses to say how much time he spends in Pennsylvania, has made him a very easy target for Democrats.
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Another speaker, Mae Krier, also talked about the personal impact that Casey had on her. Krier, an original “Rosie the Riveter,” moved to Seattle in 1943 to help build B-17’s and B-29’s for Boeing during WWII. Now 98 years old and living in Bucks County, Krier credited Casey for helping the Riveters get more recognition.
“During WWII, there were millions of us women. We never reached the honor that we should have received after the war. The men came home to flying flags and parades. Rosie the Riveter came home with a pink slip. And it just wasn’t fair.The did nothing for the women that worked to save our country,” said Krier.
“As I worked, and I worked for many, many years, I connected with Senator Casey. And you can’t imagine what that man has done for me, and our Rosie the Riveters.” she said. “He just never quit. Every time we asked for something, he’d be there for me and support me. I think that’s wonderful. And this didn’t go on for weeks, it went for months, it went for years. And we finally got a national Rosie the Riveter day, thanks to Bob. And after nine years of work, he helped us get the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian medal you can get from our country.”
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According to the Hill, Senator Casey holds a 8.3% lead based on 53 polls. He received a slight bump after President Biden dropped out of the Presidential race and Vice President Harris announced her plans to run, peaking at 50.9% on August 11. Currently, Casey is polling at 48.2%.
