U.S. Sen. Bob Casey addresses the Democratic National Convention Aug. 22. 2024 (Capital-Star photo)
Three-term U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) had the strongest fundraising quarter of his career, doubling what Republican challenger Dave McCormick brought in. But both campaigns enter the home stretch of the election with nearly the same amount of cash on hand.
Casey’s campaign raised just under $16 million from the beginning of July to the end of September, according to the latest campaign finance report. McCormick’s campaign raised $7.83 million in that same period, which includes a $200,000 loan he gave to his campaign. The Republican challenger has loaned his campaign $4.26 million since joining the race for Senate in Sept. 2023.
This latest haul is a significant jump for Casey, while McCormick’s was nearly the same. In the second quarter which ended on June 30, Casey’s campaign raised $8.04 million, while McCormick’s campaign raised $8.4 million, including a $2.09 million loan the Republican gave to his campaign.
Both candidates entered the month of October with just under $3 million on hand. Casey’s campaign reported having $2.9 million at the beginning of the month, while McCormick’s campaign began October with $2.86 million on hand.
Casey has significantly outspent McCormick over the last three months. From the beginning of July to the end of September, Casey’s campaign spent $21.5 million, while McCormick’s campaign spent $12.79 million during the same period.
Casey’s 2024 bid for U.S. Senate has been much more expensive than his previous campaign in 2018 against Republican challenger Lou Barletta.
Casey’s campaign has raised $47.9 million in the election cycle-to-date in the 2024 race. At this point in the 2018 cycle, his campaign had raised $20.93 million.
McCormick is also a much stronger fundraiser than Barletta. At this point in the 2018 campaign, Bartletta had raised $6.18 million total, while McCormick’s campaign has raised $25.1 million since entering the race.
Both candidates have been on television for months as the Pennsylvania airwaves have been flooded with ads from both campaigns and outside political action committees.
The latest polling shows Casey leading McCormick by a few points, and national ratings outlets, like the Cook Political Report, also give the edge to the incumbent, rating the race as “leans Democratic.”