Penn. Republican Senate candidate David McCormick: ‘I’m the underdog’

( NewsNation ) — One thing has been very clear to David McCormick , the Pennsylvania Republican who’s challenging Democrat incumbent Senator Bob Casey .

“I’m the underdog,” McCormick told NewsNation’s Leland Vittert in a one-on-one interview for “On Balance.”

“I’ve come into this race against a political family and guy who’s been in this office for 34 years,” McCormick said, referring to Casey’s father, Robert Casey Sr., who was Pennsylvania’s governor from 1987 to 1995.

“You know, the nice thing about dynasties is that they all end at some point. So, I think this is the point at which this dynasty ends,” McCormick said.

Losing in the GOP Senate primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz two years ago, McCormick is now giving Casey his strongest challenge in decades. The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s aggregate of polls shows Casey leading McCormick by 3.7 points — 47.7% to 44%.

While that’s still within the margin of error, McCormick said, “The important thing is that I’ve gained enormous ground over the last 60 to 90 days. People are getting to know me.”

The West Point graduate was a paratrooper in the first Gulf War, where he was awarded a Bronze Star. Since then, he’s managed a startup, helped run a hedge fund and served in the Treasury Department under George W. Bush.

McCormick says his campaign style this time out has been to emphasize the “retail.”

“I want to be everywhere. Sixty-seven counties, every town, every part of our great Commonwealth. I feel like I’m very much in touch with the kind of leadership we need. And it’s not more of the same.”

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