Kathy Barnette Nearly Tied With Dr. Oz in Latest PA GOP Senate Primary Poll

Matt PalumboMay 17, 2022

Kathy Barnette is surging in a new poll against Dr. Mehmet Oz in the Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary. Susquehanna PR shows new polling that shows Barnette and Oz neck-and-neck, with Barnette at 27 percent, and Oz at 28.

Oz, who was endorsed by former President Trump, has been taking hard hits over the past week as Barnette, and her story of coming from a poor upbringing, the child of rape, has captured the hearts of Pennsylvanians.

Breaking: SP&R’s New Pa GOP poll out today (conducted 5/12-5/15, 400n likely voters) shows 2-way tie for US Senate w/ Oz (28%) Barnette (27%). BUT! Among voters who made up minds in last few days Barnette leads (at 45%). She has MOJO! Billionaire spender D. McCormick is D.O.A. pic.twitter.com/wSY2cyaWse

— SP&R (@SusquehannaPR) May 16, 2022

McCormick has taken a back seat. On Sunday, McCormick told Fox News that the “stakes are so high” for the GOP nomination for Senate in Pennsylvania, as a Republican win in that state could upset the balance of power in the US Senate.

“I think we’re going to have a big turnout, and right now what the voters are focused on in the primary is who is the candidate that shared my conservative values and is going to fight for those in Washington,” McCormick said.

His primary focus is on who can win in the general election, which will likely be against Lt. Governor John Fetterman, who is still in the race—and the lead— despite suffering stroke symptoms on Friday and being rushed to the hospital. Doctors were able to reverse the stroke, but he is still hospitalized. His wife, Gisele, will be speaking on his behalf on election night.

“The second question is who can win this general election? The stakes are so high because it determines not only Pennsylvania but the direction of the country and then, three, who can show up on day one with the experience to deal with the crisis we’re in — Ukraine, China, the open borders?” McCormick said.

Speaking to OAN, Barnette addressed the situation in Ukraine, saying that both the Biden administration and the establishment GOP are being “reckless” in their approach. She said that from the beginning, Biden and the administration have been “ginning up this war,” and that they should be seeking peace.

“What Trump showed us,” she said, “is that peace comes through strength. What Biden is showing us is that war comes from weakness, that’s why we’re finding ourselves where we are.”