Roger DuPuis | Times Leader
Lou Barletta spoke for just about four minutes Thursday night.
President Donald J. Trump spoke for the better part of 75 minutes.
Trump’s appearance at the Mohegan Sun Arena might have been a rally in support of Barletta’s senatorial aspirations, but let’s be honest — it wasn’t Barletta the crowd came to see. Not really.
Don’t misunderstand me here. The former Hazleton mayor was on friendly home turf.
He was among thousands of people who will very likely vote for him. They chanted “Looooooou” whenever the president invoked Barletta’s name. They applauded his brief remarks with genuine gusto.
Some wore T-shirts that read only “Lou,” with a facsimile of his trademark white grin beneath. Many of them even waved Barletta campaign signs.
But a look around the arena seemed to reveal far more people wearing, waving and carrying Trump apparel, signs and memorabilia.
Lou Barletta is running for U.S. Senate in 2018.
Many in the audience made it clear they want Trump to run for re-election in 2020. And that’s really what Thursday night was.
Yes, the most powerful man in America came to Pennsylvania to boost a candidate whose victory in this key swing state would help increase GOP’s control of the upper chamber, and serve as an important symbolic win in a state with two big blue cities at either end.
Sure, Trump wants Barletta to win. I wouldn’t go as far as saying the president needs Barletta to win — it’s far too early for that — but he sure as heck gains nothing if the man he dubbed “Sleeping Bob” Casey retains the seat.
(Take note, readers, the Scranton Democrat’s new presidential nickname was apparently born Thursday night during Trump’s visit to what he called “Wilkes-BARR.”)
And…
