Pennsylvania Republican leaders said they are optimistic about their chances keystone state One that puts former President Donald Trump at the finish line, while a top Democrat suggested otherwise, explaining how his party is on track to win.
State Senator Chris Dush, a Brookville Republican who said he represents seven of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, was asked about a big blue area in his district — Center County, which is home to Penn State University. .
Dash’s district covers all or parts of Jefferson, Elk, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania’s lush northwestern forests.
with republican activist Scott Pressler Targeting Center as part of his statewide GOP voter registration campaign, Dash said the prospect of flipping Center County is “really becoming very exciting.”
Neighboring Clinton County, which is home to Lock Haven, was solidly Democratic until the Trump era, Dush said. “They just outnumbered Republicans 3-to-1.”
Pennsylvania State Senator Chris Dush.
He said, “This is a huge change that’s coming to rural Pennsylvania… and part of it is that my working-class, middle-aged and senior constituents are seeing what’s happening with their jobs and inflation and all this craziness.” It’s happening.”
“A man is now able to be called a woman: that sort of thing, too. Enough is enough now, after all.”
At a recent fair in her district, Dush said a young Democrat shoved her while speaking to the crowd, which included many Gen-Z people. Instead of joining in, he told the crowd that the reason the man was upset was because he was one of those people who couldn’t buy a house, a car or other “American Dream” mainstays.
“And I’m getting applause from the kids,” he commented.
In many of Dush’s red counties, Democrats like Senator John Fetterman performed better than in the previous cycle – while GOP candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz still won outright in areas.
In that regard, Dush was asked whether this was an aberration or whether the areas were actually trending toward the Democrats.
“The fact that they’re putting such restrictions on the development of businesses in the Northern Tier and Western Pennsylvania: There’s not a state in the United States that doesn’t have a Steelers bar, and that’s because working-class kids have have become our best export, I want them back,” he said.
Farther east, near the New Jersey border, the Lehigh Valley was once home to a rapidly growing steel industry Immortalized by Billy Joel’s 1981 hit “Allentown”.
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Pennsylvania State Senator Jarrett Coleman.
Since then, the area has gone through several years of transition following the closure of the mills and some shopping districts. Gradually, it has gained some recognition as a warehousing hub, along with the surrounding area of New York and Philadelphia.
State Senator Jarrett Coleman, R-Parkland, represents the western half of the valley, centered around Lehigh County — where Republicans have made several attempts to flip the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa. Have come in danger.
For several years, the seat was held by anti-Trump liberal Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa. And before that, then-Rep. Pat Toomey, and before him, the liberal Democrats.
Coleman said he predicts a good year for Republicans in Lehigh County, noting how neighboring Bucks County — which he also represents — turned in majority-GOP registrants through the work of people like Pressler. .
He said the economy is a major issue in the district, as Fox News Digital discussed its industrial past.
“I think it’s because I believe the GOP has done a better job of connecting with people on kitchen table issues,” Coleman said.
“The thing that has come up very quickly recently is homeownership,” he said.
he noted Vice President Kamala Harris Has proposed assistance for homebuyers, as well as imposing a tax on unrealized gains.
“So on the one hand, she’ll help you buy the house, and of course, that’ll be through tax dollars to help subsidize the down payment… Then as the house appreciates, the administration will tax you In value.”
“This is not a solution. This is another example of the government creating a problem and then trying to come in and say they have saved the day.”
In a statement, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella said the GOP is “on the offensive in Pennsylvania.”
“The Keystone State is a deeply GOP haven of flippable seats and ground zero for expanding our House majority,” he said, adding that many of the vulnerable Democrats running for re-election will be truthful about their records on the border, inflation and crime. Don’t talk to.
While he believes Philadelphia and Pittsburgh “will play well” for Harris, Coleman said he has never seen such enthusiasm for the GOP ticket in areas such as the Lehigh Valley and key mid-state areas.
“Can the rural vote come back, and can we offset the votes of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — and will there be enough people in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia who are awake? But I think it will be a question of whether everywhere else Can be motivated enough.”
One person who believed otherwise is Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Sharif Street.
Street, a state senator and son of popular former Philadelphia Mayor John Street, suggested that Democrats are the ones whose ground game has been unmatched.
Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street.
“We’ve had over 40,000 volunteers sign up since Kamala became our candidate for president. Vice President Harris has inspired people. We’ve seen people knock on doors, start campaigns, more than 50 Opened offices (in PA),” Street said.
He quipped, “People are very excited about supporting Vice President Harris. So yes, we’re seeing a lot of energy, a lot of engagement and the Vice President has kind of set the world on fire.”
When asked which key areas of the state the candidate has been focusing on in recent weeks, Street said Harris has been throughout the commonwealth.
When asked about both candidates’ frequent visits to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Street said there was Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa. and Republican Rob Bresnahan in the key congressional race.
“This is also Senator Casey’s hometown area,” he said.
When asked about Republican claims that they are making inroads in Centre, Bucks, Luzerne and the Lehigh Valley, Street said he has not seen such evidence.
He said that in the center — Penn State County — Democrats have added a second state representative in Paul Takacs, and Northampton County is now as Democratically controlled as its bluer-county counterpart, Lehigh.
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However, Street said the change may not be because there are more Democrats in those areas, but because Republicans have shifted from their longtime moderation.
He compared Trump-type politicians to past Republicans who have performed well statewide, such as Senator Arlen Specter and Gov. Tom Ridge.
Pennsylvanians of both stripes also overwhelmingly supported liberal Democratic governments. Ed Rendell and Robert Casey – fathers of current U.S. senators, he said.
Street said, “Our Republicans and Democrats across the state have never been so far apart from each other. Democrats are still where we’ve always been.”
Fox News Digital also reached out to the Harris campaign for an interview.
