New Casey ad focuses on American steel, playing to Pittsburgh audience

U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) speak at a press conference with the United Steelworkers union March 12, 2024. The unions want the Biden administration to investigate what they call China's "predatory" practices in maritime shipping (Screen capture)

With his focus shifting towards the general election, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) has released a new television ad promoting his support for American steel. It’s his first campaign ad since the April 23 primary, when he officially won the Democratic nomination to defend his seat.

“Pennsylvania steel built America. Our bridges, buildings, and skylines,” a voiceover actor says at the beginning of the 30 second ad, first viewed by the Capital-Star. “But yinz wouldn’t believe it. Our own government turned their backs on us.”

The ad goes on to detail how Chinese steel was used to build infrastructure in the United States, but notes Casey supported the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden and his administration’s guidance from April 2022 requiring federal infrastructure be built with American steel.  A worker in a hardhat says “take that, China.” At the end of the ad, Casey says he will “always stand up to China to protect American workers.”

The Casey campaign told the Capital-Star that the ad will

start running in Pittsburgh, Scranton and Harrisburg media markets this week. Previous campaign ads are still airing across the commonwealth. 

Casey has now released four television ads in the current cycle so far. His previous ads highlight bipartisan legislation he sponsored to provide benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure to burn pits and fighting big corporations over “greedflation” and “shrinkflation.”

Republican David McCormick, who will be challenging Casey for the seat in November, has also been on the Pennsylvania airwaves since late March. The two television ads McCormick has released detail his roots wrestling in the state and lessons he learned from graduating from West Point and serving in the military.

A super PAC backing McCormick’s candidacy announced a $4 million TV ad buy on Wednesday.

Casey’s latest ad touches on two issues that have become talking points during the campaign: American steel and China. 

Casey has been endorsed by the United Steelworkers union for a fourth term, while McCormick has also pledged to fight for Pennsylvania steelworkers. Both candidates are also positioning themselves as hawks in regards to the United States policies with China on trade and more. 

The race between Casey and McCormick, which could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate next year and beyond, will likely be one of the most expensive of 2024.

New polling released this week shows Casey with a slight lead. Both an AARP Pennsylvania and Muhlenberg College poll show Casey leading McCormick by 4 points, while former President Donald Trump holds a slim lead over President Joe Biden. 

The Cook Political Report, a national ratings outlet, says the race for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat leans Democratic.

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