The sudden rise of conservative commentator and author Katie Barnett to the polls clearly alarmed Donald Trump in his election to the Pennsylvania Senate by renowned physician Mehmet Oz.
After publishing a Fox News poll showing that Barnett was far from Oz, Trump released a statement criticizing Barnett as too weak to meet Democrats in the general election.
“Katie Barnett will never win the general election against the radical left Democrats,” Trump said in a press release from his Political Action Committee on Thursday.
In the same statement, Trump left the door open for his support, in case he wins, in an effort to cover his ground amid the weakening power of his political endorsement.
“He has a lot of past that hasn’t been explained or tested properly, but if he can do it, he’ll have a great future in the Republican Party – and I’m behind him in every way,” he said. . .
Barnett, who wrote to The book Speaking of being black and conservative and never holding a public office, he has a Long story Anti-Muslim and anti-gay statements, according to CNN. He falsely accused former President Barack Obama of being a secret Muslim and offered himself Prohibition Islam. He was also involved in fraudulent conspiracies related to the 2020 election.
Fox poll on Tuesday It showed Barnett 19% of the vote, behind Oz 22% and former Hedge Fund CEO Dave McCormick 20%. He also said that 18% of voters are still undecided.
National Republicans choose to stay in turmoil for now. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Chairman of the National Republican Senate Committee, is neutral when it comes to primary. On Thursday, he allayed concerns about Barnett’s viability as a candidate in the general election and expressed confidence in winning the open seat, no matter who comes first.
“We’re going to win in Pennsylvania,” Scott told HuffPost.
But Senator Johnny Ernst (R-Iowa), vice president of the Senate GOP Conference, defended Barnett and called him “extraordinary.”
“Just because you’re a novice in politics doesn’t mean you have to write,” Ernst said He says In an interview with CNN.
On Thursday, Trump also announced a televised rally for Oz days after his departure for the state to hold a MAGA rally with the former “Dr. Oz Show” host – Another sign that the former president believes Oz may need his help in the last minute before the primary starts on Tuesday.On Friday, Trump struggled to sell people to Oz, Who is irritated On stage.
Democrats have their major headaches that they have to fight in one of the most competitive races of the cycle. But on Thursday they couldn’t help but rejoice a little at the situation the Republicans were in.
“We really have a challenge this year, but this is the main thing they’re doing: it’s negative, so angry, so divisive that I think it’s going to hurt their candidate,” Sen said. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).
Source: Huffpost