National Republicans are fretting over the prospect of a Trump nomination, with the NRSC directing candidates to stay as far away from Trump as possible. But vulnerable incumbent Pat Toomey and his Pennsylvania GOP allies are too anxious over his grim reelection prospects to pass up on Trump campaign cash. The Associated Press reports that Trump will headline a fundraiser for the Pennsylvania Republican Party, and that they’ll put the proceeds toward helping Toomey, even though Toomey himself will be steering clear of the event.
Just this morning, Senator John McCain, in a tough reelection fight of his own, admitted that “Donald Trump could jeopardize Republican control of the Senate if he’s the party’s 2016 presidential nominee.” Still, Toomey knows that with his record of “actively working against” Pennsylvania, his campaign will be long and expensive.
“Pat Toomey’s uphill climb to reelection grows steeper each week, and he’s grown desperate enough to turn to Donald Trump for help,” said Lauren Passalacqua, DSCC National Press Secretary. “If Toomey thinks he can avoid the problems Trump brings by simply avoiding him at one event, he’s sorely mistaken. Pat Toomey’s record of blocking bipartisan small business bills and voting to end Medicare as we know it is bad enough on its own, but now he has to answer for the Trump money he’s taking, too.”
