PENNSYLVANIA – As far-right insurrectionist Doug Mastriano moves closer to jumping in and supercharging Republicans’ race to the bottom in the “Super MAGA” gubernatorial primary, the race is about to take a nasty turn.
Before he even officially announces, Doug “Mail-In” Mastriano has already set his sights on “Jake the Snake” Corman and “Loser Lou” Barletta, calling them out by name in front of grassroots supporters. As described by The Philadelphia Inquirer, at an event last week, Mastriano attacked Corman and Barletta, casting doubt on Barletta’s recent poll claiming his frontrunner status in the primary and criticizing Corman, saying “he acts like a Democrat.” Seven months before the primary, Mastriano appears to be on the verge of joining the race to the bottom for Trump’s support – and he’s willing to take down his fellow PA Apprentice competitors in the process.
Check out the recent Clout column in The Philadelphia Inquirer describing Mastriano’s escalating attacks:
By Chris Brennan, 10/22/21
Running for statewide elected office in Pennsylvania is as expensive as it is exhausting. Would-be candidates commonly seek money pledges from major backers before jumping into a race.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano is doing that for the 2022 Republican primary for governor. He’s waiting on a financial sign. From God.
The Franklin County senator and his wife, Rebecca “Rebbie” Mastriano, spoke last week at Time Ministries Church in Bedford County.
It was a standard event for Mastriano, pushing debunked claims about 2020 voter fraud, complaining about public safety measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and repeatedly mocking fellow Republicans for not measuring up.
You know, church talk.
Mastriano and his wife said they are praying about a campaign, according to a recording of the event obtained by Clout. She told the crowd the couple have “a monetary fleece out there,” meaning a prayer “that only God” can answer.
The couple have done this before. They issued a fleece before he entered politics in 2019. God kept them waiting until the day before their deadline, she said.
“Sometimes He does wait until the last minute,” she said.
While they wait, Mastriano showed no hesitation in attacking the primary competition. He mocked former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta of Hazleton, who released a poll this month showing him as the early favorite for the Republican nomination.
“That was a rigged poll,” said Mastriano, offering as proof his own poll showing himself as “the top guy in Pennsylvania.”
Mastriano’s most frequent target was Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, a Centre County Republican who might make a play for governor. Corman in August pulled Mastriano from his most public platform, a push for a partisan review of the 2020 election results.
“Maybe you should draw a line in the sand with Democrats, not someone in your own party,” Mastriano said of Corman. “You do reap what you sow. I don’t know that he’s going to last very long.”
Corman and Barletta declined to comment. Mastriano did not respond to Clout’s hails.
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