MCKEES ROCKS – U.S. Republican Party Senate candidate Dave McCormick joined SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk at a town hall near Pittsburgh on Sunday. It was the latest in a series of events aimed at boosting voter turnout in Pennsylvania for former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee.
Musk presented a check for $1 million to an audience member the plan was announced Saturdayy to donate $1 million to a registered Pennsylvania voter every day until the election. To qualify, people must sign a petition pledging to support the First and Second Amendments. Sunday’s winner, Kristine Fishell, wore a Trump/Vance T-shirt and hugged Musk after taking the stage.
“Your wealth and responsibility you use to save speech and we all appreciate that, we really do,” Fishell said.
Musk’s giveaway raised questions about whether it was legal. Governor Josh Shapiro he said on Meet the Press Sunday that it was “deeply disturbing.”
“I think it’s something law enforcement can look at. I’m no longer the attorney general of Pennsylvania, I’m the governor, but this raises some earnest questions,” Shapiro said.
Wearing a scary towel over his shoulder, Musk introduced McCormick to a cheering audience at the Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks.
“I’ve lived the American dream,” McCormick said, noting that his wife is an immigrant and that while he has six children, they don’t have as many as Musk. who has 12 children. “We want to make sure the American dream is available to our children. Make sure that liberty, the First and Second Amendments are protected, our Constitution is protected and save the America we all love for our children, and this guy is leading this impeachment.”
Our community and country deserve change.
In 16 days our movement will deliver it.
Great to have @elonmusk here in Pittsburgh! pic.twitter.com/pgv8ctZQoq
— Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) October 20, 2024
Musk said a Senate victory was “absolutely essential.” McCormick is challenging three-term Democrat Bob Casey, who did just that consistently leads in the polls.
TaNisha Cameron, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said McCormick’s record of “putting the bottom line ahead of working Pennsylvanians is disqualifying,” adding that “Pennsylvanians cannot trust him to be there for them.”
Musk claimed, without providing evidence, that Democrats “are sort of openly advocating for the repeal of elements of the Constitution, especially the right to bear arms and free speech. This is open rebellion and no one is doing anything about it, but that is why we must get rid of those who… will uphold the Constitution.”
Musk urged registered Republicans who received an absentee ballot but did not vote to do so. After McCormick left the stage, Musk answered questions from the audience, commenting on topics such as artificial intelligence and abortion. He stopped tiny of saying he would support a nationwide abortion ban, calling it a “nuanced” issue.
As a condition of participation, everyone in attendance was required to sign the First and Second Amendment petition. Despite the reservations, a long queue formed outside the facility before the doors opened.
Harrison Michael Burckart, 19, of Mercer County but lives in Pittsburgh, said he welcomed Musk’s participation in the election.
“I think a lot of people look up to him and maybe wouldn’t vote or would vote differently,” Burckart said. “And now that he says it, people will start to look at everything differently.”
Musk additionally contributed approx $75 million to his pro-Trump America PAC in recent months, meaning his total spending this election cycle has come to an end $119 million.
Since taking the stage and declaring himself “Dark MAGA” in a matching hat at Trump’s rally in Butler on Oct. 5, Musk has been using his X-platform to spread a wave of misinformation about the federal response, apparently aimed at undermining Democrats.
Manny Manikbhojwan, 58, of Mount Lebanon, originally a registered Democrat, attended the event hoping Musk could convince him to vote for Trump, but he remained undecided.
“I think if you’re a Democrat, you just hate Trump and don’t want to vote for him. This is what I see with most people on the other side,” Manikbhojwan said. “Republicans think the same way. It’s very tribal. I don’t know what they are undecided about. I think the choices are pretty clear. There’s not a lot of gray here at this point.”
The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is October 21. Pennsylvania voters can apply for absentee ballots until October 29.
