GOP senator’s ad touts praise from a strange source: Obama

by Nikita Vladimirov - 11/05/16 12:25 PM ET

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is advertising praise from President Obama as he makes a push in the final days of the campaign, the Washington Post reported Friday.

{mosads}A new Toomey TV ad that aired Friday features a clip of Obama praising Toomey for working with the Democrats on a gun reform, the report said.

Obama made the comments in 2013 when he praised Toomey and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) for backing a bill that would require background checks of the individuals who attempted to buy a firearm.

“That was not easy,” Obama says in the clip while lauding the two senators.

Toomey has been a frequent critic of Obama, especially on the economy, ObamaCare and immigration.

And the president has returned the favor, campaigning on behalf of Toomey’s Democratic challenger Katie McGinty.

Toomey has sought to walk a line on GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, continuing to say as recently as this past week that he hasn’t decided who he will back for president.

McGinty has a slim three-point edge over Toomey, according to polling averages.

Pennsylvania’s race will be in national focus in the final days of the campaign. Trump is campaigning in Scranton on Monday, the day before Election Day, while Obama is rallying with Democrat Hillary Clinton in Philadelphia that day.

Tags Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Joe Manchin