Top Dem Senate Recruit Gushes Over Support Of Trump Archnemesis

Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is aligning himself with one of President Donald Trump’s longtime foes as he mounts a campaign to flip North Carolina’s open Senate seat blue.

Cooper sent a joint fundraising email with Democratic California Sen. Adam Schiff just an hour after announcing his Senate bid Monday, telling supporters that he is “grateful” to have Schiff’s endorsement. Cooper’s decision to fundraise with Schiff comes as the North Carolina Democrat is likely to cast himself as a moderate during the campaign — but national Republican groups are eager to use Cooper’s left-wing record as governor against him.

“Will you split a contribution of $20 or another amount that’s right for you between my campaign and Adam Schiff to get us started off strong?” a fundraising email sent to the Schiff campaign’s distribution list on behalf of Cooper said Monday. “I’m grateful to have Adam Schiff’s support in this crucial race, and I’d like to have yours, too.”

Schiff helped lead House Democrats’ first impeachment of the president and notably accused the president of colluding with Russia during his successful 2016 campaign. The two men have clashed more recently over allegations that Schiff committed mortgage fraud — with Trump calling on the California Democrat to face prosecution.

Schiff followed up his fundraising effort for Cooper by publicly endorsing the North Carolina Democrat Monday.

“Go get ‘em, Gov,” Schiff wrote