Pa. Dems squabble over fracking — and guess who’s for it?

In the battle for Pennsylvania’s competitive Senate seat this fall, candidates have spent recent weeks squabbling about the future of hydraulic fracturing in the state as well as taking aim at each other over campaign contributions tied to the energy industry.

But this isn’t a fight between Republican Sen. Pat Toomey and his challenger; it’s just the Democratic primary taking shape.

A trio of Democrats are vying in an April 26 primary for the right to take on Toomey in the Keystone State: former Rep. Joe Sestak, former White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Katie McGinty and Braddock, Pa., Mayor John Fetterman.

McGinty’s campaign disputed those figures, along with data culled by America Rising, a Republican political action committee, arguing that she has received funds from individuals with varying energy interests and not from oil and gas industry-related PACs.

“It is absurd that Pat Toomey and his allies are making accusations about Katie’s support when Toomey has received $300,000 from the oil and gas industry and has a consistent record that is dangerous to the environment — such as voting to roll back clean water protections and voting against taking action on climate change,” McGinty spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told Allentown’sMorning Call last week.

This article was excerpted from E&E Publishing. Click here to read the full article online.