Casey and McCormick debate again after a combative first meeting in the competitive Senate race

HARRISBURG – Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican challenger David McCormick meet for their second debate Tuesday night, with control of the Senate at stake and tens of millions of dollars flowing into the race each week.

During her first debate two weeks ago, Casey tried to make the point that McCormick is a wealthy, enterprising ex-hedge fund CEO who got rich at the expense of Americans and will serve the interests of billionaires.

McCormick portrayed Casey as a weak, no-hours, out-of-touch career politician who votes almost 100% with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Mail-in voting has already begun in the crucial swing-state seat and the outcome of this race, one of the most expensive in the country, could help determine which party controls the closely divided Senate.

Casey, perhaps Pennsylvania’s best-known politician, is seeking a fourth term in what he says represents his biggest re-election challenge yet.

Casey, 64, supported Biden’s major initiatives, including his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, and is a staunch ally of labor unions. The former state comptroller and treasurer has won six statewide elections and is Pennsylvania’s longest-serving Democrat in the Senate. He has advocated for preserving the middle class, abortion rights, labor rights and voting rights – and calls McCormick and former President Donald Trump a threat to everyone.

McCormick, 59, is running for the Senate for the second time after a narrow defeat in the 2022 Republican primary. Mehmet Oz had lost. He was CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, sat on Trump’s defense advisory board and held top positions under President George W. Bush. These included posts as undersecretary of commerce, in charge of policy to control the export of sensitive technologies, and as undersecretary of the Treasury when the government tried to prevent bank failures during the recession.

McCormick supports Trump’s promises to enact the tax cuts he signed in 2017 and to carry out a mass deportation of immigrants who are in the country without permission – giving priority to people with criminal records. McCormick also opposes abortion rights but said he would not vote for a national abortion ban.

Issues surrounding border politics and the Israel-Hamas war are at the forefront of the race.

Democrats currently have a narrow majority in the Senate but face a difficult Senate map in 2024.

According to the Federal Election Commission, more than $190 million has been spent on this single race so far. The total is expected to exceed $320 million, based on AdImpact’s campaign advertising tracking, which includes reserved seats through Election Day.

The 60-minute debate will air starting at 7 p.m. and will be hosted by WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, which will broadcast it live. Univision 65 in Philadelphia will simulcast it with Spanish translation. Both networks will stream it live online, as will ABC News Live and Univision’s VIX.

Both Casey and McCormick were uncontested in their party’s nominations. Also on the ballot in this race are John Thomas of the Libertarian Party, Leila Hazou of the Green Party and Marty Selker of the Constitution Party. They were not invited to the debate.