GOP Candidates Block Press From Bucks County Campaign Rally

In an unusual move, two top Republican candidates blocked media from attending their campaign rally.

At a rally in Warminster Township on Saturday, State Sen. Doug Mastriano, who is running for governor, and Kathy Barnette, one of the leading GOP finalists in the U.S. Senate primary, welcomed supporters to a rally at the The Fuge event space. Outside, people who appeared to be affiliated with the candidates blocked reporters, even ones who had previously obtained permission to enter.

Reporters were at the event, as is typical, to gather information, images, and video on what Mastriano and Barnette, who have shots at winning Tuesday’s primary, were saying. Reporters from local outlets and national media organizations were in attendance to cover the campaign stop, one of the last for the high-profile candidates.

The event was of heightened interest to reporters because former President Donald Trump had endorsed Mastriano hours earlier.

“There is no one in Pennsylvania who has done more, or fought harder, for Election Integrity than State Senator Doug Mastriano,” Trump wrote in a statement.

Representatives from both campaigns didn’t comment on blocking reporters.

Robert Costa, the chief election and campaign reporter for CBS News and a Lower Bucks County native, led the delegation of journalists in attempting to get a man dressed in tri-corner hat and colonial attire to allow entry to the event.

A LevittownNow.com reporter and Costa gained permission from the brewery and eatery inside The Fuge to enter, but security guards in black suits rushed to block reporters and forced the brewery to close to keep reporters from hearing the candidates speak.

Numerous people holding back reporters all said they didn’t work for either campaign. However, some had Mastriano gear on and went up to his campaign bus.

Sam Cravero, the owner of the venue, said the Mastriano campaign was renting his venue and they set the rules. He said the state senator’s campaign staff had the candidate’s security block reporters.

A TV cameraman and a security guard both reported the other one had bumped them and asked the other stop. The security guard had to be moved away by a peer and the cameraman said: “I’m too old for this s–t.”

While tensions flared at times, the reporters and campaign workers remained relatively calm. One even spoke with the remaining reporters later in the day, both commiserating about working on a rainy Saturday.

Eventually, two police officers were called. They left after speaking to campaign workers and because the media was not causing a problem.

Mastriano’s lead in the GOP primary race has concerned many Republican officials due to far-right views he has expressed and his closeness to conspiracy theories. Several Republicans heavily involved in Bucks County politics have raised concerns over Mastriano’s views and ability to win the general election against Democrat Josh Shapiro.

Mastriano’s GOP primary opponents are working to try to defeat him, with two resigning to endorse Lou Barletta. Among some Republicans, Barletta, who has been a vocal Trump fan, is seen at having a chance to defeat Mastriano.

Barnette is in a statistical dead heat with Republican rivals Mehmet Oz and Dave McCormick. Barnette has spent much less money on the campaign than the two men and still rose through the polls. She has faced scrutiny for making anti-Muslim and anti-Gay comments.

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