Pence to headline Barletta fundraiser for US Senate campaign

HARRISBURG (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence will headline a fundraiser for Pennsylvania’s Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Lou Barletta.

Republican Party chairman Val DiGiorgio said Wednesday that he expects the July 23 event in Philadelphia will raise $300,000 to $400,000 for Barletta, who has badly trailed Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in campaign cash.

Casey is running for a third term.

No independent poll puts Barletta within striking distance of Casey, although Barletta is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and Republican officials expect Trump will come to Pennsylvania to campaign for Barletta.

At the end of April, Barletta reported $1.3 million in the bank, compared to Casey’s $10 million.

A Barletta fundraiser scheduled next week is being headlined by Nigel Farage, an architect of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.