Trump launches a rescue mission to save GOP seat in Pennsylvania special election
By James Hohmann March 9 at 8:55 AM
With Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve.
THE BIG IDEA:
PITTSBURGH—If Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone wins an unexpectedly close special election here next Tuesday, it will be on Donald Trump’s coattails. On the other hand, this race wouldn’t be competitive at all if the president was not so polarizing – even in a mostly blue collar, largely rural southwestern Pennsylvania district that he carried by 20 points in 2016.
This race should be a gimme for the GOP. Democrats didn’t even bother to field a candidate in 2016 or 2014. But public and private polls show the contest in the 18th district is now a toss-up, even after Republicans have poured in more than $10 million – about five times what Democrats have spent.
Court-ordered reapportionment means that the district will cease to exist in its present form come November, but a defeat here would nonetheless represent the biggest political humiliation for Trump since he went all in for Senate candidate Roy Moore in Alabama and lost anyway last December. That’s why the White House is sending the cavalry.
Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway flew here Thursday night to stump for Saccone at the Allegheny County GOP’s Lincoln Day dinner. Her appearance was not scheduled until this week. She assured the crowd that the nominee will be “a reliable vote” for Trump.
“This should be easy,” she said, referring to the choice facing voters. “The Republican Party has shown the value of unified government.”
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