Philadelphia Inquirer: “Mike Sfida, Manager at Max’s, Said He Was Told the Event Was for Autism Awareness and Was Surprised to See Campaign Signs for McCormick”

Philadelphia Small Business Owner: “We Didn’t Sign Up for That at All […] You’re Not Welcome Back”

PENNSYLVANIA — On Oct 3rd, David McCormick once again showed Pennsylvanians there is nothing he won’t lie about. 

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a McCormick representative deceived a local business by telling them their planned campaign event was an autism awareness event – and McCormick was told he was “not welcome back” by the business owner and “asked…to leave” by a local church.

ICYMI: Philadelphia Inquirer: GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick campaigned outside a cheesesteak shop in North Philly. It didn’t go smoothly

• Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick on Friday afternoon made a campaign stop outside Max’s Steaks in North Philadelphia, the latest in a series of GOP events aimed at reaching out to Black voters in Philly this year.

• But McCormick’s campaign apparently didn’t do enough outreach to Max’s.

• Mike Sfida, manager at Max’s, said he was told the event was for autism awareness and was surprised to see campaign signs for McCormick and former President Donald Trump being hung up outside the restaurant. Sfida said he welcomed the event because his niece and nephew have autism, “not a political campaign.”

• “We didn’t sign up for that at all. Zero,” Sfida said as the McCormick team was wrapping up the event. “I could throw them all out of here, but I’m going to be nice. Do your thing. When you’re done, leave. You’re not welcome back.”

• The confusion over the purpose of the event stemmed from the fact that it was organized in part by Sheila Armstrong […] Sfida said Armstrong reached out to him to schedule the event on behalf of her nonprofit organization, Cooking4Autism, and not on behalf of McCormick’s campaign.

• However, there was little visible indication the event had anything to do with autism awareness. While there were Republican campaign signs and McCormick campaign pamphlets on a table, there were no resources about autism.

• McCormick walked across the street to East Bethel Baptist Church, which was holding a fundraiser for its food ministry outside the church.

• But the impromptu stop didn’t go smoothly, either. The Rev. Thomas Edwards Jr. said he asked McCormick and his entourage to leave because he didn’t want photos of his church’s members to be used by the campaign.

• […] “Forgive me if I’m wrong. I don’t trust these people.”