Casey campaign pulls ad against McCormick after widow’s plea
Ad claimed McCormick maintained Saudi ties post-Khashoggi murder
The campaign team for Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey is removing an attack ad against his rival, David McCormick, following a plea from Jamal Khashoggi’s widow. The ad accused McCormick, a Republican Senate candidate, of maintaining his hedge fund’s Saudi connections despite the killing of Khashoggi in 2018.
McCormick, then co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates, faced scrutiny over the firm’s Saudi investors. The ad claimed McCormick insisted on supporting those involved in Khashoggi’s murder to safeguard his business interests.
Maddy McDaniel, Casey’s spokesperson, acknowledged the ad’s removal was planned and expressed sympathy for Hanan Elatr Khashoggi. She highlighted a report detailing McCormick’s internal controversy concerning Saudi investments. Hanan Elatr Khashoggi objected to the ad, which incorrectly described her late husband as American. She emphasised her ongoing trauma and her commitment to correcting misconceptions about Jamal Khashoggi.
Hanan Elatr Khashoggi contacted Casey’s team, urging them to withdraw the ad immediately. She criticised their decision to let the ad run its course rather than pulling it down promptly. Her attorney, Randa Fahmy, requested local stations not to broadcast the ad. Fahmy, who considers herself a friend of McCormick, supported this move.
McCormick accused Casey of exploiting a widow, predicting voters would dismiss Casey in the upcoming election.
Investigations linked Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s associates, with the CIA concluding that MBS ordered the attack. Salman denies involvement. Khashoggi’s death strained US-Saudi relations, sparking international outrage.
The Pennsylvania Senate race is under intense scrutiny, with Casey holding a narrow 3-point lead over McCormick, according to RealClearPolitics. The Cook Political Report rates the race as leaning Democratic.
What Other Media Are Saying
- None.The provided URL does not correspond to any specific news article on Democratic Underground, and the page appears to be a general forum or discussion board. Therefore, there is no article content to summarize. (Read more)
- Here Greenville reports on Pennsylvania’s senatorial campaign drama involving Bob Casey, Jamal Khashoggi’s image, and Hanan Elatr Khashoggi’s emotional plea against insensitive political use. (Read more)
- None, as the provided link does not lead to an article titled “Philadelphia Campaign Ad Khashoggi Controversy.” The actual controversy involves a Pennsylvania senatorial campaign ad, not Philadelphia. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did Bob Casey’s campaign decide to cycle out the attack ad?
The widow of Jamal Khashoggi pled with them to take it down, and it was previously planned to cycle out.
What was the attack ad against David McCormick about?
The ad accused McCormick of pushing his hedge fund to support Saudi Arabia, despite its ties to Khashoggi’s murder.
How did Hanan Elatr Khashoggi react to the ad?
She found it painful and traumatizing, and asked Casey’s team to take it down immediately.
What did the Wall Street Journal report about David McCormick?
It reported that McCormick faced internal controversy over Bridgewater Associates’ Saudi investors.
What is the current standing of the Pennsylvania Senate race?
Casey is averaging a 3-point lead over McCormick, with the race rated as lean Democratic.
