Sean Hannity insists he is to not blame for Kathy Barnette's failed Senate bid and as an alternative mentioned the candidate's refusal to reply questions on her report sank her possibilities.

Hannity, the Fox Information persona, on Wednesday slapped down Barnette's declare that he unfold "disinformation" that "nearly single-handedly" hamstrung her marketing campaign in its remaining days. The alternate factors to a lingering rift between Hannity and Barnette as mud settles within the hotly contested Pennsylvania GOP main.

"She is unelectable in Pennsylvania in a normal election," mentioned Hannity on his program, noting the importance of the race. He added, "This can be a must-win Senate race for Republicans, if, the truth is, they've any hope of taking up the Senate."

Pennsylvania's Senate Republican main has but to be known as a day after Tuesday's election that noticed a three-way race between the main "America First" candidates.

Sean Hannity at Event
Fox Information persona Sean Hannity mentioned he is not answerable for Kathy Barnette's failed Senate bid within the Pennsylvania GOP main. Above, Hannity attends the launch of Geraldo Rivera's e book at Del Frisco's Grille on April 2, 2018, in New York Metropolis. Theo Wargo/Getty Photographs

The latest rely from state election officers had Dr. Mehmet Ouncesbarely forward with simply over 31 p.c of the vote. Former hedge fund govt David McCormick remained in second, with roughly a thousand votes separating the 2.

Barnette noticed a surge in assist days earlier than the election because the conservative commentator offered herself as an outsider within the mildew of former President Donald Trump, regardless of Trump giving his sought-after endorsement to Oz. However Barnette remained caught in third Wednesday evening with a couple of quarter of the vote.

"I do need to say, always remember what Sean Hannity did on this race," mentioned Barnette in a video she posted to Twitter earlier Wednesday from her rural Pennsylvania house.

A relaxed Barnette spent a lot of the three-minute video expressing gratitude to all her supporters, whereas taking a second for a swipe at Hannity. She mentioned Hannity unfold disinformation and "flat-out lies each evening for the previous 5 days," which she mentioned was "simply extraordinarily laborious to beat, apparently."

As Barnette rose within the polls, Trump mentioned she would not win within the normal election due to what he mentioned had been too many issues in her previous that hadn't been "correctly defined or vetted."

Within the run-up to the first, Hannity used his program to additional solid doubt on Barnette's electability. In a phase final Friday, Hannity highlighted what he known as her historical past of "extraordinarily controversial feedback" about Islam, the LGBTQ group and others. Hannity additionally introduced up what he known as "holes in her resumé," saying her marketing campaign refused to reply questions on her work historical past and army service.

On Wednesday, Hannity mentioned he stood by his scrutiny of Barnette, saying his present's employees repeatedly reached out to her for remark.

"However I actually need not defend myself," mentioned Hannity. "You are the one that basically must reply the questions on your entire feedback, and your entire tweets which might be there. You'll be able to lash out at me all you need."

Newsweek has reached out to Barnette for remark.