Nikki Haley stumps for Dave McCormick in Allegheny County, says his fate at polls tied to Trump's

Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley told a packed crowd at a northern Allegheny County music venue that former President Donald Trump will need to be re-elected in order for Dave McCormick to be successful in his bid to unseat Pennsylvania’s veteran U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.

Haley spoke in support of McCormick on Wednesday evening during a rally at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Marshall’s Warrendale neighborhood.

Haley said she supports McCormick because of his support for a wall at the country’s southern border and for expansion of fracking to exploit Pennsylvania’s natural gas reserves. She criticized Casey, a Democrat, for his opposition to those policies.

“I think he forgot that he lives in Pennsylvania,” Haley said regarding Casey’s stance on fracking.

Haley also criticized Casey for his support of the federal Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan, charging that both have ballooned in cost beyond original intentions and that many projects slated for funding under the former act have become stalled.

“Our kids know they’re going to have to pay for that,” Haley said.

With Casey seeking his fourth term in the Senate, Haley said she additionally supports McCormick because he has pledged to serve for a maximum of two terms and advocates a balanced federal budget.

“I have long said we need term limits in Washington, D.C. ,” Haley said.

A former governor of South Carolina and former U.N. ambassador in the Trump administration, Haley told the audience she made Wednesday’s Pennsylvania appearance because “I feel what you feel: I feel the anxiety that’s out there, I feel the frustration that’s out there, and I know you’re done.”

Haley, who captured 17% of Pennsylvania’s GOP primary vote even after pulling out of the race, urged the crowd to vote for both McCormick and Trump — though, in a recent interview with Fox News, she criticized the Trump campaign for racist and misogynistic comments made by speakers at a rally Sunday in Madison Square Garden for the former president.

“I know it’s noisy out there,” Haley said. “When I tell you to take the emotion out and focus on the policies, Dave McCormick can’t win if we don’t elect Donald Trump at the top of the ticket.

“You may find Trump noisy, but what I will tell you is he understands that we’ve got to get this economy turned around.”

Haley suggested she relates to those who are experiencing economic hardship. She referred to her newly wed daughter’s complaints about high grocery bills and her son’s concern about making his rent after his recent graduation from Villanova University.

“I need us to focus on our kids and the next generation,” Haley said.

Haley voiced support for McCormick and Trump because she said they will place importance on border security and energy dominance.

She said Trump “understands that we can’t have any more wars,” adding, “I’m the wife of a combat veteran. I don’t want him to get deployed again.“

Welcomed onstage by Haley, McCormick repeated her reference to the importance this year’s election will have for future generations.

“This election is about our children,” he said. “This election is about our children’s children. What kind of legacy are we going to pass on to them?”

McCormick indicated, if elected, he will pursue “common-sense” policies.

“When you’ve got the fourth largest natural gas reserves in the world, you’ve got to unlock it and have energy dominance, which is going to be great for Pennsylvania jobs,” he said.