Trump touts GOP candidate before speech

President plugs tax cuts during Pa. factory visit

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. — President Donald Trump threw his support behind a Pennsylvania Republican in a contest widely viewed as a test of whether his party can stave off Democratic gains this year.

Speaking Thursday at a Pittsburgh-area factory, Trump praised state lawmaker Rick Saccone as “a real friend and a spectacular man.”

And he told reporters he planned to come back to Pennsylvania — where he won in 2016 — to campaign for Saccone, who is trying to keep a House seat in Republican hands in the first congressional race of the year.

“I’ll be back for Rick, and we’re going to fill up a stadium and we’re going to do something really special for Rick. I look forward to it,” Trump said.

The White House had insisted Trump’s visit had nothing to do with politics. And indeed, the speech he delivered at H&K Equipment largely stuck to the script, touting the tax cuts he signed into law just before Christmas, and trying to turn the conversation to his accomplishments.

But hours before he left Washington, Trump made clear the visit had a second purpose.

“We will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE,” Trump tweeted, adding: “We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda!”

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders quickly sought to correct the record, insisting in a statement that Trump was going to Pennsylvania to talk about tax cuts, not to campaign.