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Parnell’s Withdrawal From Senate Race Opens Door For Dr. Oz, Others

Republican frontrunner Sean Parnell announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for the U.S. Senate. Parnell was faced with a judge’s decision to award the custody of his children to his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce case with allegations of abuse.

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey’s retirement is attracting numerous candidates from both parties. And the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race also has drawn national attention with the control of the now 50-50 Senate in the balance. Some pundits have claimed Pennsylvania’s open seat is the most likely to flip from Republican to Democrat.

When former President Donald Trump endorsed Parnell, a bestselling author and former Army Ranger who ran for Congress against Conor Lamb, it catapulted him to the front of the crowded field vying for the Republican voters’ nod in the May 17, 2022 primary.

And with Parnell, who lives in western Pennsylvania out of the way, the candidates from the Southeast will have more room to run.

“It means the Trump endorsement is up for grabs again,” said Robin Kolodny, chair of the political science department at Temple University. “It’s unclear who will get it as several other candidates have close ties to Trump. Parnell’s image problems just can’t survive a 10 person field.”

“Expect a few more people to drop out before the February 15 filing deadline,” Kolodny added.

Veteran Republican political strategist Christopher Nicholas said, “Parnell’s announcement shakes up an already unsettled GOP primary here. It appears as though other candidates will enter the race and it will give Ambassador (Carla) Sands another opportunity to try to hoist the Trumpy banner in the primary.”

“I thought that President Trump’s endorsement of Parnell made him the frontrunner for the Republican nomination,” said Berwood Yost, director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College. “This undoubtedly changes the race and I think we’ll need to see whether the former president endorses another candidate before we make any guesses about who is the current frontrunner. At the moment, none of the remaining candidates seems to have any notable advantages over the others.”

Jeff Bartos, the Montgomery County businessman and a Republican candidate for Senate, declined to comment about Parnell’s situation. However, Bartos’ campaign was the first to fire shots at Parnell as his messy divorce situation became public.

In September, the Bartos campaign launched a statewide digital ad campaign against Parnell.

“Sean Parnell has a long, well-documented, and disturbing history when it comes to his treatment of women. Sean’s vile actions and attitudes have already cost him his guns, and his home,” said Conor McGuinness, campaign manager for Bartos, at that time. “Enough is enough. We have to hold Sean Parnell accountable for his actions – and if we don’t, it will cost Pennsylvania and our nation dearly.”

Montgomery County author and Fox TV commentator Kathy Barnette, a Republican who is also the running, said, “Now more than ever, we need to focus on what’s in front of us.  Democrats have shown us exactly who they are and what they mean when they say they want to ‘fundamentally change’ our nation.  We reject their change.  That’s why it is vital we select a true conservative to fill this Senate seat in Pennsylvania.  We must elect a candidate who can relate to the hard-working people of Pennsylvania.  Farmers, steelworkers, small business owners – all need a senator who understands their plight with rising gas prices, food prices and the cost to heat their homes.  We are living in serious times and we must focus.

“We must elect a candidate who will passionately defend our American values.  The Republican Party cannot continue to put forward the same-old, cookie-cutter Republican and expect to win this Senate seat,” said Barnette, promising to be that candidate.

Sands, who served as ambassador to Denmark under Trump, did not respond to a request for a comment. However, Sean Gale, a Montgomery County lawyer and Senate candidate, did not hesitate to take a jab at Parnell.

“To be honest, Sean Parnell was a flawed candidate from the very start. Putting aside his scandals and courtroom drama, Sean Parnell never had a path to win both the May primary election and November general election,” said Gale. “Pennsylvania needs a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate who can rally conservative voters in central and western Pennsylvania while simultaneously appealing to Independent voters and soft Democrats in southeastern Pennsylvania.  In truth, I’m the only Republican candidate in the 2022 Senate race who has the unique ability to not only energize and turnout the base, but reduce the margin of defeat in the City of Philadelphia and its deep blue surrounding suburbs. I appeal to voters across the political spectrum because I’m not afraid to expose corruption and fecklessness in my own party.”

Meanwhile, celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz is rumored to be considering entering the race, with buzz that he plans to buy a house in the Philadelphia suburbs. Others said to be contemplating a bid include David McCormick, a hedge fund CEO, and former Chester County Congressman Ryan Costello. And some in Trump’s orbit are now championing McCormick.

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GOP Senate Candidate Carla Sands Announces Million-Dollar Ad Buy

Carla Sands served as U.S. ambassador to Denmark under President Donald Trump. Now she wants to be Pennsylvania’s next U.S. Senator, and she tells Delaware Valley Journal she’s going up with a $1 million television and digital ad buy beginning Nov. 17 as part of her bid to become the GOP nominee.

In the ad, Sands says she is the one who can stand up to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).

Sands, who grew up in Camp Hill near Harrisburg, followed her father and grandfather in the chiropractic practice. She married businessman Fred Sands and, after he passed away, ran the business he started, becoming chair and CEO of Vintage Capital Group. Prior to becoming an ambassador, Trump appointed Sands to his Economic Advisory Council.

“As a businesswoman, I have had to go up against some formidable opponents and have shown I know how to hold my own. We need conservatives in Washington with the backbone to stand up to Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and their radical, socialist agenda,” said Sands. “I’m running for Senate to fight for Pennsylvanians – not to make friends with the swamp. Just like in business, I will take on anyone who stands in the way of my mission. Pelosi and AOC don’t intimidate me.”

In an editorial for DVJournal, Sands contends President Joe Biden is weak on foreign policy issues and that weakness makes the U.S. less safe.

“But now, as America is beset by enemies, we have a president all too eager to cave to our enemies abroad and those destroying our way of life from within. Americans across our country and our soldiers abroad are paying the price for this new leadership in Washington,” Sands wrote.

In a previous editorial, Sands took on the “one size fits all” public education system and advocated for school choice.

“For too long, our school system has operated in a manner that placates unions and is specifically inhibitive of competition. Introducing a competitive factor to how we fund education has the potential to be a major catalyst for change. As your senator, it’s my hope to work toward that change,” Sands wrote.

Incumbent Republican Pat Toomey is retiring. Other Republicans running for the Senate seat include author Sean Parnell, businessman Jeff Bartos, author Kathy Barnette, and lawyer Sean Gale —  all Montgomery County residents.

Democratic contenders include Lt. Gov.  John Fetterman, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, Montgomery County Commissioner Dr. Val Arkoosh, Philadelphia Dr.  Kevin Baumlin, and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta.

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DelVal Doctors Diagnose Dr. Oz U.S. Senate Bid

Reports that TV star Dr. Mehmet Oz plans to run for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania as a Republican had tongues wagging this week.

Doctors have served in Congress, so it would not be unprecedented.  Currently, several Republican doctors are serving in the Senate including Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, Kansan Roger Marshall, and John Barrasso of Wyoming.

In the House, doctors Larry Bucshon, a thoracic surgeon, represents Indiana, and Michael Burgess, an OB/GYN represents Texas.

Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican who currently serves Pennsylvania, is not running for reelection, leading to a long list of candidates, both Democrat and Republican, who are vying for Toomey’s seat.

But if he decides to run, Oz wouldn’t be the only doctor in the race.

Democrats Val Arkoosh, chair of the Montgomery County Commissioners and an anesthesiology specialist, is a doctor. Kevin Baumlin, chair of Pennsylvania Hospital’s emergency department, is also running.

“We have many great candidates for the Senate and governor positions and in the final analysis the people of Pennsylvania will make the ultimate decision and select the candidates they believe can represent them at the highest level of leadership excellence,” said Dr. Nche Zama, a cardiothoracic surgeon from the Poconos, a Republican who is running for governor.

Dr. Robert Sklaroff, who practices hematology, oncology, and internal medicine and is affiliated with Nazareth Hospital, said of Oz, “It seems he has not reflected the fundamental views of the Republican Party, both regarding domestic policy (having supported a lot of progressive Democrats) and foreign policy (having supported Turkey’s Islamist President Erdoğan). From a medical perspective, he has hawked ‘miracle cures’ that aren’t based upon peer-reviewed data. My major concern is election integrity and he has never—to my knowledge—addressed violations of election integrity in 2020 which, in my humble opinion, continues to be the major threat to democracy.”

On a lighter note, Dr. Bob Michaelson, a retired Montgomery County resident, said, “I guess Dr. Oz (meets) the constitutional qualifications of being at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of his state. Being a public TV personality seems to have worked for others. I don’t know how well he would legislate, but I would prefer the Wizard of Oz in most cases.”

And forensic pathologist Dr. Jonathan Briskin said, “I think he should stay on TV.”

Oz, if he decides to enter the race, would face a crowded field including author and veteran Sean Parnell, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump; former ambassador Carla Sands; Montgomery County businessman Jeff Bartos; TV personality and author Kathy Barnette; and Montgomery County lawyer Sean Gale on the Republican side. Democrats include Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta.

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