'I believe in this man,' McCain tells Toomey supporters in Delco

Sen. John McCain stumped for Sen. Pat Toomey in Delaware County on Friday morning, praising Toomey as a leader on national security and veterans issues.

In an appearance before about 100 supporters at the Folsom Veterans of Foreign Wars post, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee said Toomey is a critical ally of his in the Senate, and needs to win reelection for Republicans to hold their majority in the chamber.

"I believe in this man," said McCain, of Arizona. "You have a workhorse in Washington."

Toomey is locked in a tight race with Democrat Katie McGinty, Gov. Wolf's former chief of staff.

Speaking about threats to national security, Toomey knocked the Iran nuclear deal and said he would not quit his mission to pass a bill ending sanctuary cities.

"Katie McGinty either doesn't get it or she doesn't take these threats seriously," he said.

McCain commended Toomey for working to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs and prevent veteran suicides. Toomey has sought to play up his security background as McGinty has tried to hit him on his opposition to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and ties to Wall Street.

"We need Pat Toomey," McCain said. "We need the ideas, the innovation, and the hard work."

In response, McGinty spokesman Sean Coit said, "Pat Toomey should be embarrassed to even talk, much less lecture, about national security."

The room was packed with veterans and Delaware County Republicans including U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, State Rep. Steve Barrar, and District Attorney John J. Whelan.

"I was very happy to see Sen. McCain here," said Ray Stankus, 70, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. Stankus admires Toomey, he said, because "he crosses party lines to get things done."

Of Toomey's views on national security, Navy veteran Jeffrey D. Dorfman, 66, of Bryn Mawr, said, "He's on target. Right on target."

jmcdaniel@philly.com

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@McDanielJustine