Trump wades into Pa. race seen as test of GOP strength

CORAOPOLIS, PA. » The White House insisted it was not a political event. But that didn’t stop President Donald Trump from throwing his support Thursday behind a Pennsylvania Republican in a House race that is widely viewed as a test of whether the party can stave off Democratic gains.

Speaking at a Pittsburgh-area factory, Trump praised state lawmaker Rick Saccone as “a real friend and a spectacular man.” Earlier, Trump told reporters he planned to come back to Pennsylvania — where he won in 2016 — to campaign for Saccone.

“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 the event had nothing to do with politics. Trump would be talking about the tax cuts he signed into law just before Christmas, and trying to turn the conversation back to his accomplishments after weeks dominated by distractions, including questions about his mental health and comments about immigration that some considered racist.

Saccone’s name would not appear in Trump’s prepared remarks, officials said, although he greeted Trump at the airport and attended the speech

Hours before leaving the White House, Trump pledged “total support” for Saccone, who is trying to keep that House seat in Republican hands in the first congressional race of the year.

“We will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE,” Trump tweeted. “Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda!”

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee 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.

A campaign event would require that taxpayers be reimbursed for some of Trump’s travel expenses. Trump’s re-election campaign reimbursed the Treasury $68,000 for political travel last year.

Saccone, a 59-year-old state representative, faces Conor Lamb, a 33-yearold lawyer and former Marine, in the March 13 special election to replace Republican Tim Murphy, who resigned last year after acknowledging an extramarital affair.

The election is shaping up as the next test of Democratic enthusiasm and GOP resilience in the Trump era and an early indicator of whether a midterm wave may be coming in November, as Democrats hope. The party that controls the White House traditionally loses seats in Congress in the midterm election.