Trump Endorses Candidate For PA U.S. Senate Seat

PENNSYLVANIA — Former President Donald Trump has waded into Pennsylvania politics by endorsing celebrity physician Dr. Mehmet Oz for the GOP nomination for the state's upcoming U.S. Senate vacancy.

Trump issued a statement over the weekend saying he favored Oz to succeed Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring at the end of the year.

The Oz endorsement came despite the fact that the wife of David McCormick, the former hedge fund manager who has a slight lead for the Republican nomination in recent polling, served in Trump's administration. Dina Powell, 48, was Trump's deputy national security adviser for strategy.

"This is all about winning elections in order to stop the radical left maniacs from destroying our country,” Trump said in a statement. “The great commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tremendous opportunity to save America by electing the brilliant and well-known Dr Mehmet Oz for the United States Senate.”

Trump last fall backed Fox News contributor Sean Parnell for the Senate seat. He dropped out of the race in November after losing a contentious child custody case to his estranged wife.

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