In addition to McGinty’s campaign, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the End Citizens United super-PAC have funded ads attacking Toomey with anti-Wall Street themes.
Toomey, who has also been critical of Wells Fargo, didn’t respond to requests for comment.
A risk for banks is that if Toomey loses it could serve as a double whammy. Lenders would relinquish a senator in a key post who they consider receptive to their issues, while gaining a lawmaker who seems inclined to align herself with Warren’s growing political posse.
Should McGinty win, voters will expect her to take an active role on financial issues, because reigning in Wall Street has been a recurring theme of her campaign, said Mike Gehrke, research director for For Our Future, a super-PAC funded by unions.
‘Shady Dealings’
“It’s an issue that sticks,” Gehrke said.
McGinty’s background as head of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection has drawn attacks from Toomey’s side. In that role, she played a role in awarding subsidies to alternative energy companies. Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth, Freedom Partners Action Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund have all run ads accusing McGinty of personally profiting from decisions she made in that position.
“They tried to launch an all-out assault on Pat Toomey, and we’ve fought back to expose the McGinty record of shady dealings,” said David McIntosh, the president of Club for Growth.
Aiding McGinty is a joint effort by the League of Conservation Voters and the United Steelworkers union, which created the New American Jobs Fund super-PAC. Canvassers have connected with about 45,000 likely voters around Pittsburgh and about 119,000 in Philadelphia. The canvassers ask voters to sign a pledge that they’ll turn out to vote, and steer the conversation toward jobs, education and the environment. So far, the group has spent about $1.8 million.
Kochs’ Money