‘Dr. Oz’ bets Trump endorsement can catapult him in Pa. Senate race

Pennsylvania Senate hopeful Mehmet Oz won the Donald Trump primary by securing the former president’s endorsement over the weekend.

Now, Oz’s Senate campaign says it plans to spend at least $1 million to make sure Pennsylvania Republicans know about it — betting that by bolstering awareness of the endorsement, his poll numbers can be buoyed.

Starting Tuesday, Oz plans to air a new TV ad promoting the endorsement and bashing his chief GOP rival, David McCormick. The planned ad placement, the biggest for Oz’s campaign to date, could hit $1 million; advisers didn't give an exact number.

Whereas endorsements by Trump once decided many Republican primaries, the lesson of 2022 may be that his support can make a difference — if a candidate pays to make sure voters know who his favorite is in a race.

“This endorsement of Dr. Oz is a game-changer in the GOP primary,” said Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, who is neutral in the Pennsylvania primary. “Every candidate in the race and in races across America want President Trump’s endorsement.”