CNN’s Tapper tried to talk GOP candidate out of running against Democratic incumbent: report

CNN anchor Jake Tapper tried to dissuade House GOP candidate Sean Parnell from running against Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), according to a direct message on Twitter obtained by Fox News.

“And best of luck in your race. For the record, I wasn’t trying to talk you out of running — I was trying to talk you into running in a safer R district! Lol,” Tapper, who is host of “The Lead” and “State of the Union,” wrote to Parnell on Nov. 8, the direct message showed.

This is a DM Tapper sent Parnell pic.twitter.com/SPA8YndGwu

— Brian Flood (@briansflood) September 10, 2020

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report lists Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District as “likely Democratic.” Lamb narrowly won a special election in March 2018 by less than half a percentage point, defeating GOP nominee Rick Saccone in the neighboring 18th district. He later won a full term in the 17th district in November 2018 by beating former Rep. Keith Rothfus.

The Fox News article follows a similar report by Breitbart News, published Sept. 6, that said Tapper had denied to former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grennell that he asked Parnell to not run against Lamb.

Update.

I just asked @jaketapper “Is it true you asked Sean Parnell to not run against Conor Lamb?”

He told me “nope”.

So there is his answer. https://t.co/Nh8LdVKmrD

— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) September 6, 2020

The Hill has reached out to CNN and the Parnell campaign for comment.