McCormick proposes a negative advertising ceasefire to Casey in Pennsylvania Senate race

Dave McCormick, the Republican nominee in the Pennsylvania Senate race, proposed a halt in attack ads in his contest against Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally.

“In light of the assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, I agree with President Biden and propose to Senator Bob Casey we both suspend our negative advertising,” McCormick posted on X.

“This is a time to come together as Americans to recognize that what makes our country and its people exceptional transcends party. Let’s take some time to put aside the negativity,” he added.

McCormick recently wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about his experiences at the shooting, saying he was “moments away from joining him at the podium to talk about my campaign for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania,” when Trump was injured.

“What we really need to ask ourselves is how we can keep our free society from becoming a banana republic where political differences are resolved with ballistics,” McCormick wrote. “Mr. Trump’s critics need to acknowledge that he isn’t Hitler or the devil. He’s a legitimate political candidate, and the contest for the presidency should be fought over ideas and leadership traits, not through calumny that can incite violence.”

The Senate candidate also called for less divisive rhetoric, even acknowledging some extreme rhetoric on the Right.

“Extreme rhetoric has also gained currency on the political right,” he wrote. “It’s time to stop the unending ratchet of political polemic by extremists on either side who believe their opponents’ extinction is the only option. This is a political sickness, and it’s spreading. It isn’t manifest only in one party, and it can’t be fixed by one party alone.”

In the presidential campaign scene, President Joe Biden ceased most campaign activities in light of the shooting, and Trump largely ceased attacks against the president amid calls for unity. Biden called the former president not long after the shooting and spoke with him.

But ultimately, McCormick called for action.

“We need to put the engine of our republic in a constructive gear. We have consequential differences; we should debate them robustly,” he wrote. “The left and right have vastly different visions, and both fear the consequences of losing. So let’s have that conflict — but let’s commit to keep it inside the context of elections, civil debate and policymaking.”

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Casey has consistently led in the polls against McCormick, but a recent poll showed the senator leading by just 1 point.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Casey’s campaign but did not receive a response.