To Land Fetterman, GOP Went First to His Colleague

Republican strategists went hunting for an attention-getting moment to schedule during last week's GOP midterm convention. They found it in Democratic Sen. John Fetterman. To broker the deal, Axios reports, they turned to Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, Fetterman's Pennsylvania colleague and friend. Republican sources said McCormick floated the idea in July after GOP operative Tony Sayegh and Trump adviser Jason Miller pushed for a high-impact, defector-style appearance to underscore their message that Democrats have veered too far left. After several days of calls and texts, Fetterman agreed, telling McCormick that he knew it would anger people but that he wanted to introduce his friend.

Fetterman didn't go to Dallas, instead taping a 64-second video outside a Braddock steel mill, unscripted, labeling himself a "common-sense Democrat," praising McCormick, and pledging to work with President Trump on protecting Pennsylvania steel. GOP organizers didn't edit his remarks and never raised the idea of a party switch, sources said. Fetterman kept the move secret from his own staff, and the cameo deepened his rift with fellow Democrats; some in his home state, tiring of his criticisms and appearances on Fox News, said that's the end of the senator running for reelection in the party. "Democratic primary voters I think are done with him," said Mike Mikus, a Democratic strategist based in Pittsburgh, per the Hill.