Sen. Joni Ernst calls out Pa. Sen. Bob Casey while stumping for GOP opponent Dave McCormick: ‘You need a change, Keystone State!’

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Hitting nan run way for GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) didn’t mince words astir her Pennsylvania counterpart nan businessman is challenging — once she figured retired who he is.

“I virtually had to extremity and beryllium like, ‘Okay, what’s nan sanction of nan feline Dave is moving against?’’’ Ernst told a crowd of veterans supporting McCormick successful Bethlehem Saturday.

His sanction is Bob Casey, and he’s a three-term incumbent locked successful a tight race, which Cook Political Report precocious moved into toss-up territory.

Pennsylvania GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick is successful a tight title pinch three-term incumbent Sen. Bob Casey.

Ernst said Casey has not been 1 of her much progressive colleagues during her decade successful nan Senate.

“I activity pinch a batch of people, Republicans and Democrats, and I tin show you that I person ne'er been approached by Bob Casey to say, ‘Hey, activity pinch maine connected this issue,’” Ernst said.

Ernst invoked nan US military’s thought of a “leader” arsenic personification who “inspires” others to enactment toward a communal extremity and concluded nan West Point grad McCormick amended fresh that billing.

“I’ve served successful nan United States Senate now for 10 years,” Ernst said. “Ten years, and I’ve yet to spot Bob Casey animate others to travel him. . . . You request a change, Keystone State!”

For his part, McCormick characterized Casey arsenic “weak” and repeated his “Punxsutawney Bob” quip astir nan incumbent — a reference to nan location of Groundhog Day celebrations successful Pennsylvania each February.

“He pops his caput retired of his spread . . . past he gets done nan election, he wins, and he goes backmost successful his hole,” McCormick said. “He’s Punxsutawney Bob, a profession politician.”

International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22, a Philadelphia firefighters’ national that endorsed McCormick partially because of Casey’s deficiency of beingness successful nan community, would apt work together pinch nan GOP campaigner likening his force to Pennsylvania’s astir celebrated groundhog.

Besides Ernst, McCormick was joined Saturday by 2 different imaginable Senate colleagues: Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

Young poked nosy astatine Casey being nan boy of nan precocious Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey Sr. and pointed to his ain Senate run against Democrat Evan Bayh — nan boy of different Hoosier legislator — successful 2016.

“I utilized to opportunity my force is moving connected his dad’s name,” Young said. “I’m moving connected my dad’s values.”