Timing is everything.

U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick’s political action committee – Pennsylvania Rising – paid the Republican State Committee of PA $50,000 just weeks before the group unanimously endorsed the former Bridgewater Associates CEO at its meeting in Harrisburg.

“I am deeply humbled to receive the unanimous endorsement of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania,” said McCormick after the endorsement. “United as one, Republicans across Pennsylvania will win. We will defeat Bob Casey and bring strong leadership to Washington on behalf of the commonwealth.

The PAC’s mission on its website reads that “Pennsylvania Rising is fighting to protect our conservative values by supporting Republican candidates running for state office in Pennsylvania.”

According to the latest Federal Election Commission filing, Pennsylvania Rising has allocated:

• $15,000 to the Republican Committee of Allegheny County
• $10,000 to GOP candidate for PA Supreme Court Carolyn Carluccio
• $10,000 to the Committee to Elect Wade Root, the GOP candidate for Erie County Controller
• $10,000 to the Bucks County Republican Committee
• $10,000 to Friends of Joe Rockey, the GOP candidate for Allegheny County Executive

Sam DeMarco, chair of Pennsylvania Rising and also Allegheny County GOP chair, told PennLive that the donation to the state committee was “absolutely not” connected to McCormick’s endorsement.

“The contribution was to help them with their mail-in and absentee ballot program,” said DeMarco.

McCormick officially entered the race on Sept. 21 and, after receiving the unanimous endorsement of the Pennsylvania GOP committee, called the endorsement “unprecedented” and demonstrating the “unity behind McCormick’s candidacy.”

The unanimity has been called into question by some in the room, including attorney Joshua Prince who claimed on his blog that a voice vote was tainted.

“What everyone did not expect was a couple State Committee members being denied entry to the meeting and the open deceit that would occur by two votes being taken in relation to the endorsement for Dave McCormick. The first vote occurred, with time for both the Yays and Nays to respond, consistent with Robert’s Rules and proper decorum. There were a number of Nay votes, which led Chairman (Lawrence) Tabas, as soon as the vote was taken – and it was clearly anything but unanimous – to take a second vote for the endorsement of Dave McCormick, where as soon as the Yays responded, Chariman Tabas immediately stated “All those opposed. The Yays have it” with absolutely no time for any opposed to again voice their opposition. This resulted in it being declared that Dave McCormick was “unanimously endorsed,” which caused a LOT of ire – further dividing our Party. So much for the Party that espouses election integrity, right?!?!”

Nancy Pleskovitch, a state committee member from Westmoreland County spoke out on social media: “Contrary to this Fox News article, the PA State Committee did NOT vote unanimously for Dave McCormick’s endorsement to be our next US Senate candidate. “I am one of many who voted NO,” she proclaimed on her social media State Committee Member page.

“It is happening all across Pennsylvania. The Party decides the candidates – NOT We the People,” affirmed Pleskovitch, alluding to controversies happening in Butler County as well as locally here in Cumberland County. Pleskovitch believes the primary is for the people’s vote to elect their favored candidate.

Her last words on the post were: “I am very discouraged to be a State Committee member right now but I will keep fighting for the Constitutional rights of We the People.”

Maddy McDaniel, a senior communications advisor to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, charged that McCormick “is using the millions he made outsourcing American jobs to China to try to buy Pennsylvania’s Senate seat.”