McCormick is the consensus GOP selection in the upcoming Primary Election and will face off against incumbent Democrat Bob Casey.

That’s a much different place than McCormick was in two years ago when he was in hotly-contested primary against Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Oz, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won by less than 1,000 votes.

There were lessons to learn in the wake of that defeat.

Times Observer photos by Josh Cotton Presumptive GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick meets with county GOP officials and voters on Friday night during a campaign stop held at The Plaza in downtown Warren.

And the bus parked outside of The Plaza on Friday night, where McCormick met with local party officials and supporters, is evidence of that learning process.

“I’m really excited about the race,” he said. “The country is really going the wrong direction.”

He said that inflation is outpacing wage growth.

“Most families are hurting,” he said.

McCormick also cited domestic concerns from the border and fentanyl to foreign policy concerns in Gaza and China.

“It’s disastrous,” he said. “It is a scary moment. That’s (why) we’re running.”

McCormick cited three main reasons why he believes he’s going to win.

“It’s a change election,” he said, while also stressing that the party is united behind him.

The third reason? His opponent, Casey, who he said has done nothing in 18 years.

“By any measure he is a weak senator,” McCormick said. “He has been a force for all the bad things happening.”

His campaign said earlier last week that over 22,000 signatures were submitted – 11 times as many as required – to get on the ballot.

“I’m proud that we’ve submitted over [22,000] signatures for my candidacy for the Senate representing all 67 counties…really a groundswell of support from across our great commonwealth,” McCormick said in the wake of petition filing.

“I’m really excited to start this next phase of the campaign, to go lay the groundwork and really make the case for why I need to replace Bob Casey in the Senate. We need leadership, not a career politician. We need independent ideas, not a rubber stamp for Joe Biden.”

McCormick served in the Bush administration as Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs as well as Under Secretary of Commerce, according to the White House archives.

Prior to that service, he was president/CEO of two software and service companies in addition to work as a consultant. He is a West Point graduate.

Most recently, he has been CEO of one of the world’s largest hedge funds.

He asked local GOPers at The Plaza to think about an election in their lifetimes when more was at risk than 2024.

“This is an election where we have to mobilize people,” he said. “We have to create a movement. That’s the only way we can win.”

He added that he’s going to be OK if he loses but “our kids are in deep, deep trouble… unless we do something. I want to do my part and I’m honored to do it.”

McCormick contrasted 2022 and 2024.

He said he had “all the political consultants in my ear” in 2022.

This time?

“I know what I want to do,” he said.

The bus is part of that – something that he wanted but that advisors were counseling against.

“I’m my own man. I can be an independent voice.”

One endorsement he did hand down Friday night? Graham cracker pie at The Plaza.