In Philly, Clinton weighs in on Pennsylvania’s tight race for U.S. Senate

All politics was local as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine rallied supporters at the University of Pennsylvania late Saturday.

As he warmed up the crowd of thousands who gathered on an outdoor athletic field in the chilly Philadelphia night, Kaine called Pennsylvania a “checkmate state.”

“If we win here, you can guarantee it, take it to the bank — Hillary Clinton will be the next president,” he said. “You have it right in your hands.”

Not long after Clinton took the stage, she turned her attention down ballot with shout-outs to Democratic hopefuls Josh Shapiro, candidate for state Attorney General, and 2nd congressional district candidate Dwight Evans.

Clinton also weighed in on Pennsylvania’s hotly-contested U.S. Senate race. She gave a ringing endorsement of fellow Democrat Katie McGinty, who is running to unseat Republican U.S. Senator Pat Toomey.

“She will help to break through the gridlock and get results for you and she’s running against someone who refuses to stand up to Donald Trump,” Clinton said.

Clinton continued to do double-duty, hammering Toomey by slamming her own campaign rival for his comments about Mexican immigrants, African-Americans, prisoners of war and women.

“If he doesn’t have the courage to stand up to Donald Trump after all of this, then how will he stand up to special interests and powerful forces that are going to be trying to have their way in Washington?” Clinton said.

For months, Toomey has repeatedly said he is “waiting to be persuaded” about his party’s nominee and has found some of Trump’s comments troubling.

Recent polls show Toomey and McGinty in a dead heat.

Ted Kwong, spokeperson for the Toomey campaign issued this statement in response.  “Today is just further proof that hyper-partisan, ethically challenged Katie McGinty will be a rubber stamp for everything Hillary Clinton wants to do in Washington. Pat Toomey has been, and will continue to be, an independent leader in the Senate on issues ranging from gun safety to ending Wall Street bailouts.”