(FreedomBeacon.com)- In a statement released on Thursday, less than a week before the primary election, former President Donald Trump urged Republican primary voters in Pennsylvania to avoid voting for Kathy Barnette in the race for the Senate seat held by the Republican Party.
Trump, who has endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz in the race, asserted that Barnette could not win the general election against the “Radical Left Democrats,” whose candidate is most likely going to be Lt. Governor John Fetterman.
This warning comes after recent polls indicated a significant increase in support for Barnette in a race previously considered a two-way contest between Oz and businessman David McCormick.
The surge in support for Barnette came after the most recent debate in the Senate, during which she told a compelling story about how she was the product of rape and that her mother had her when she was 12 years old.
She had previously been polling in the single digits, and federal records showed that she had not come anywhere near McCormick and Oz in fundraising and spending. Hence, Barnette’s unexpected success in the final moments of the campaign came as quite a surprise.
According to Open Secrets, McCormick and Oz have spent approximately $14 million, whereas Barnette has only spent $1.6 million.
Since then, questions and concerns have been raised regarding Barnette’s military background, previous comments she has made online, and her overall ability to compete with Fetterman, a well-liked figure among Pennsylvania Democrats and has a substantial amount of campaign funding.
Trump acknowledged these concerns and said that she has many things in her past that have not been properly explained or vetted, but if she can do so, she will have a wonderful future in the Republican Party, and he will be behind her all the way. Next time.
Oz is currently in the lead with 22.5 percent of the vote, followed by Barnette with 20.9 percent and McCormick with 18.5 percent, according to the most recent poll on the race, which was conducted by InsiderAdvantage/Fox 29 from May 7 to 9.
There was only a four-point difference between any three, and 25.9 percent of respondents said they were still unsure which candidate they would support.
The primary election will take place on Tuesday, May 17, 2019.
