Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Treasurer Stacy Garrity are sparring this week over the war in Iran.
Garrity, who is unopposed for the Republican nomination in this year’s race for governor, took exception Thursday to Shapiro describing the conflict as “the president’s war of choice.”
In response to a reporter’s question at this week’s National Action Network conference hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, Shapiro said, “I think the president’s war of choice, a war I do not support and have not supported, has not only wreaked havoc across the globe, it’s made things far more difficult for the American people.
“Whether it’s fuel prices, whether it’s the cost at the grocery store, whether it’s the cost of your health care, Donald Trump is directly responsible for making everything cost more. And we are now saddled by that,” Shapiro added.
Garrity responded with a statement criticizing Shapiro’s remarks.
“This war was not started by President Trump. It was started by the radical Iranian regime 47 years ago when they declared war on us,” Garrity said.
“In that time, Iran and its proxies have killed or maimed thousands of American servicemembers — brave men and women like those I served alongside during my three tours of duty in the Middle East,” added Garrity, a former Army Reserve officer. “Iran may have started this war, but we will finish it, and the United States and the world will be safer without a nuclear Iran in it.”
“If Josh Shapiro made his statement out of historical ignorance, it was irresponsible for him to open his mouth. And if Shapiro made the statement in a pitiful attempt to appeal to his left-wing base to run for president, he should be ashamed. Either way, it is a disqualifying statement for someone who clearly aspires to be our commander-in-chief,” Garrity said.
On Friday, Shapiro campaign spokesman Manuel Bonder said Garrity’s statement was an example of her “loudly supporting Trump’s war of choice in Iran and the higher costs it has caused Pennsylvania families.”
“Add it to the list as she continues to run for governor on her 100% allegiance to Donald Trump,” Bonder added.
Like Garrity, Shapiro, a Democrat from Montgomery County, is unopposed in the primary. He is seeking a second term.
Shapiro holds a wide fundraising advantage over Garrity. Shapiro raised nearly $10.5 million and spent almost $4.6 million during the first quarter of the year, ending the period with $36.1 million in available cash. Garrity raised just over $1 million and spent nearly $530,000 from January through March, ending the period with more than $1.5 million in available cash.
