Senators Campaign In Pittsburgh For McGinty & Toomey

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- If you doubt the importance of this race for U.S. Senate between incumbent Republican Sen. Pat Toomey and Democratic challenger Katie McGinty, consider that five United States senators were in Pittsburgh on Wednesday to weigh in.

Toomey brought four Republican colleagues to Bob's Diner in Castle Shannon to praise him.

"Pat Toomey knows what it takes to create jobs and opportunity, economic growth for the people of Pittsburgh," said U.S. Sen. Corey Gardner, a Colorado Republican.

"Pat Toomey has fought tooth and nail against that Iranian deal. His opponent thinks it's just fine," added U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska.

"Pat is one of those people that we look to for his advice. When he gets up and talks to us in session in meetings, everyone shuts up and listens," noted U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican.

"If the Republicans are going to hold the U.S. Senate, it will be because Pat Toomey is reelected," observed U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican.

Across town at the University of Pittsburgh, Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts praised McGinty and tore into Toomey.

"Pat Toomey just doesn't have the courage to say plainly that Donald Trump cannot be president of the United States," Warren told a crowd of supporters.

Warren said in the face of the Trump sex tape Toomey's failure to take a position was cowardice.

"Come on, Pat Toomey. Stand up for women. Stand up for decency. You cannot hide out forever," she said.

Warren, known for her fiery attacks on Wall Street and big banks, praised McGinty.

"Pennsylvania doesn't need another senator for the rich and the powerful. Pennsylvania needs a senator for working people. Pennsylvania needs Katie McGinty," Warren said.

Warren blamed Republicans like Toomey for allowing Wall Street and the wealthy to rip off income from 90 percent of Americans.

"We have since 1980 basically run this country for the top ten percent," said Warren.

And she said the economic system is rigged.

"When Donald Trump says the system is rigged, he's right. It is rigged," Warren said. "It's rigged for billionaires like Donald Trump and his buddies, and we are here to fight back."

Warren said Toomey was a big part of the problem.

"Here's a guy who started his career as a Wall Street investment banker, and he's been helping his rich and powerful friends every chance he gets," she said.

And she went after Toomey's voting record.

"When we voted to raise the minimum wage, Pat Toomey voted no. And when we voted for equal pay for equal work, Pat Toomey voted no," she said.

But Warren reserved her choicest words for Trump, saying he used the recession to make a profit and stiffed his own workers.

"What kind of a man does that? I'll tell you what kind of a man. A small, insecure money grubber who doesn't care about anyone or anything but himself," Warren said.

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Toomey said it was no surprise that McGinty embraces senators like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

"Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were the first two senators that came, and that, I can assure you, is the wing of the party she's from, very radical left wing," said Toomey.

"The definition of character and courage in politics is that you do what's right even if it costs you votes. Pat Toomey has failed that test," retorted McGinty.

And so the back and forth continues.