In state treasurer race, Ellis says that McCord supports terrorist-friendly countries

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- State treasurer candidate Tom Ellis delivered sharp criticism of his opponent Tuesday morning before the Pennsylvania delegation, saying Democrat Rob McCord does not have a good investment track record and supports terrorist-supporting nations who "hate America."

It was an explosive salvo offered in a race that attracts some interest from party activists but almost none from casual voters, whose attention is consumed by the presidential election.

Ellis joked most people tell him, "We didn't know we had a state treasurer."

But that doesn't stop him from underscoring the importance of the position, he said. Tuesday he harped particularly hard on what he said was McCord's support for investing state money in nations considered enemies.

"And that just got me thinking, what is this person about?" Ellis said. "You can't do that. The single most-important thing you can do is not invest in nations that hate us."

He also touted the support he said he receives from state Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery County), considered a rising star in the party, and GOP money-man Bob Asher.