• The Biden administration's decision to pause new liquefied natural gas (LNG) approvals in January could shake up Pennsylvania's 2024 election cycle and jeopardize Democratic control of the Senate, Pennsylvanians say. a political analyst told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
• Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey is in a tight race with Republican challenger Dave McCormick to represent the battleground state in the Senate for the next six years, a disgruntled Pennsylvanian who opposes the LNG moratorium. The state's working-class voters could decide which party controls the upper echelons of Congress. Chamber to move forward.
• “The problem so far is that Senator Casey has not yet taken any steps, in fact done anything, to fix or end the pause. That will ultimately be the measure voters will use to assess his commitment to Pennsylvania's economic future. ” Mike McKenna, a Republican political consultant with experience in the energy field, told DCNF.

Political commentators and strategists told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the Biden administration's policy to restrict liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports could pose serious problems for incumbent Democratic senators, and that He said it could jeopardize control of the Democratic Party.

Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey is up for reelection this term, with his state becoming the nation's second-largest natural gas producer in 2022. according to Based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Biden administration's decision in January to suspend approvals for new LNG export terminals could drag Mr. Casey away from voters in working-class communities dependent on the natural gas sector, making him the second candidate in this year's Senate race. The outcome could pose difficulties for Democrats given that they would lose. Political commentators and strategists say they want the DCNF to ensure the chamber remains under Republican control for at least the next two years.

“I think this suspension is actually the worst thing that could happen.” both world To Senator Casey. In addition to leading to job losses in Pennsylvania, working-class voters in Pennsylvania could be hit hard by rising energy costs and continued inflation, one of the top issues since President Biden took office. is very high,” John said. McHenry, a Republican polling analyst with North Star Opinion Research, told DCNF. “On the other hand, he and Sen. Fetterman have, in effect, issued a weak statement saying, 'If this hurts Pennsylvania, we're going to need to talk to Joe Biden.'” This statement is too weak to demonstrate independence, but Mr. Casey's questioning of it may have angered some environmental activists who did not support him in November. ”

The oil and natural gas sector directly supports more than 90,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and indirectly supports hundreds of thousands more. according to It is contracted to the American Petroleum Institute, and organized labor interests have a significant stake in the state's natural gas industry. according to To Politico. Pennsylvania produced about 20% of the nation's natural gas in 2022. according to Based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Related: Rust Belt Democrats splurge on luxury hotels in Europe ahead of controversial election)

I will never forget Pennsylvania's energy communities and the families that depend on energy businesses. That's why I fought for tax credits to ensure new energy projects target these areas, and it's working.

— Sen. Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) February 13, 2024

Environmental activists and climate change activists was popular LNG paused as a major victory, but it remains to be seen whether blue-collar communities are as frustrated as the environmental left is excited.President Joe Biden won about 81,000 more votes in Pennsylvania; population Approximately 13 million more people than former President Donald Trump gained in the 2020 election. according to To Politico. climate change activist and organized labor Both are poised to become important bases for Democrats who voted against Biden in the 2024 cycle.

Republicans running to represent Pennsylvania in Congress are likely to use the LNG moratorium and the friction it creates within the Democratic coalition to their political advantage as the 2024 cycle heats up. a National Republican Senatorial Committee official with knowledge of the potential strategy told DCNF. .

Casey and Democrats “want to have their cake and eat it too, by trying to appease both the radical Green Party and the gas field unions,” says the Pennsylvania-focused startup. said Matt Brouillette, founder and CEO of Commonwealth Partners. DCNF. “They've made it clear that they're on Team Green, not Team Gas,” he added, adding that the decision is likely to accelerate the shift away from the state's working class Democratic Party.

Mr. Casey issued a statement on February 1, so he may already be aware of the potential problems posed by that friction. Joint statement “If this decision jeopardizes Pennsylvania's energy jobs, we will call on the Biden administration to reverse this decision,” he told Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania.

“Joe Biden and Bob Casey look at our nation’s rich fossil fuel reserves and see problems, not opportunities. “They don't understand that we can achieve American energy dominance by freeing up resources in the United States,” Dave McCormick, a Republican poised to become Casey's primary challenger in November, told DCNF. Ta.McCormick currently trails Casey by about 9 points in the Real Clear Poll. average.

That's because Republicans only need to pick up two seats from Democrats to regain the Senate majority, and Republican West Virginia Governor Jim Justice will lose the seat vacated by Democratic retiring West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. The stakes are high in Pennsylvania and other battleground states, as the party appears to have most of its seats locked up. Republicans are also expected to be competitive in Senate races in Montana, Ohio and Arizona. according to To the analysis from the Cook Political Report.

“The problem so far is that Sen. Casey still hasn't done anything, really done anything, to fix or end the moratorium,” said a Republican political consultant with experience in the energy field. Mike McKenna told DCNF. “Ultimately, that will be the measure voters will use to evaluate his commitment to Pennsylvania's economic future. The downside of being an incumbent is being held accountable for actions and results.” Thing.”

According to Politico, Casey is building on this by touting green energy investments and jobs in Pennsylvania from the Inflation Control Act (IRA), Biden's signature climate bill passed in 2022 with no Republican votes. It said he plans to respond to criticism from Republicans on the issue.

“There's a lot of investment coming in from IRAs, but what's less well-known is how persuasive it is to the average voter,” said Kevin, managing director at Clearview Energy Partners.・Mr. Book told DCNF. “The White House has conveyed this message over and over again to factories across the country, but it's not clear what traction it's actually having.”

The Casey and Biden campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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