Senior Republicans are concerned over Rep. Lou Barletta’s campaign for Senate in Pennsylvania, saying he is not working hard enough, the Washington Examiner reported.
President Donald Trump offered support for Barletta Wednesday, but Republicans in Pennsylvania and in Washington are concerned that the congressman is relying too much on the president and is not running a capable campaign.
A Republican strategist with Pennsylvania ties tells the Examiner that nobody seems to know what he’s doing. "He’s not really working it hard. It’s a sad thing, because people like Lou."
Barletta, a four-term Pennsylvania congressman, will face off against Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey. "Casey should be vulnerable. But Lou is just like a ghost," the strategist added.
"He’s just not a good speaker," a second Pennsylvania-based Republican operative said about Barletta at a fundraising event, the Examiner reported. "Of the 20 people, 15 of them fell asleep," the operative said.
His campaign dismissed the criticism. "Lou Barletta is working his ass off to beat Bob Casey in November," said Jon Anzur, Barletta’s deputy campaign manager.
Former Sen. Rick Santorum said that the election is "winnable" for Barletta.
"I think this race will be one of those races if they don’t fund, they’re going to kick themselves in November for not having funding," Santorum said, the Examiner reported.
President Donald Trump offered support for Barletta in a series of Wednesday tweets. "Lou Barletta will be a great senator for Pennsylvania," Trump tweeted.
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