Democratic Super PAC Is Propping a Third Party Candidate in Pennsylvania Senate Race

Are Democrats in trouble in Pennsylvania?

A group connected to the Democratic Party is apparently trying to take critical votes away from Republican candidate Dave McCormick by propping up a third-party candidate in the Pennsylvania Senate race.

Defend Our Constitution has spent roughly $370,000 to run a TV ad describing Constitution Party candidate Marty Selker as "the choice for true conservatives" and criticizing McCormick for making "a fortune investing in building the Chinese military."

Tracking firm AdImpact reported that the 30-second ad spot is running on Fox News Channel in Pennsylvania. This ad is clearly targeting conservative voters who are largely disaffected by the two-party system. 

Defend Our Constitution curiously filed with the Federal Election Commission in late September. It used a Democratic media company, Old Town Media, to buy air time. According to its filings, Defend Our Constitution paid Public Policy Polling for polling and Wavelength Strategies for ads. The companies both have ties to the Democratic Party. 

McCormick is in a heated race with incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey. According to RealClearPolitics averages, Casey holds a 48% to 45.7% advantage over McCormick. Selker is an everyday truck driver who has raised a measly $11,000 as of late September. He has not run any ads for his candidacy. 

Defend Our Constitution has received funding from Henry Lord, a Connecticut donor with a track record of contributing to Democratic candidates, and an organization called Spirit of 1776, which UFCW Local 1776 in Pennsylvania funds. That union has thrown its support behind Casey.

It stands to reason that Democratic operatives are scared of Casey’s chances in this race, so they’ll turn to underhanded schemes to ensure that McCormick’s electoral base is divided, thereby depriving him of an electoral victory.