How Republicans secretly got Fetterman for their convention

The biggest surprise of last week's Republican midterm convention began with an audacious request from the organizers to GOP Sen.

Dave McCormick: Could he get Democratic Sen.

John Fetterman, a fellow Pennsylvanian, to make an appearance? "I'll ask him," McCormick said.

Within days, Fetterman — who's been increasingly at odds with the Democratic Party's liberal wing — was on board.

Why it matters: Fetterman's 64-second video — calling himself a "common-sense Democrat," praising McCormick and vowing to work with President Trump to defend Pennsylvania's steel industry — represented Fetterman's biggest break yet with his party.

Behind the scenes: According to three sources familiar with the talks, the idea for Fetterman to make the appearance emerged over the summer, as organizers of the Dallas convention sought what they called an "Oh sh*t" moment.

They were looking to drive home a key midterm message — that Democrats are too extreme.

Organizers discussed featuring "walk away" figures — people who had supported Democrats but had become disillusioned with the party.

Republican operative Tony Sayegh, a leading convention organizer, was a driving force behind the idea, and Trump adviser Jason Miller backed the plan.

Fetterman topped their list.

Zoom in: Sayegh, a friend of McCormick's, took the idea to him in July.

McCormick had developed a friendship with Fetterman as the Democrat grew more estranged from his party, particularly over many Democrats' criticism of Israel.

Organizers knew getting Fetterman involved would be a massive coup.

The intrigue: McCormick approached Fetterman carefully, knowing the backlash his Democratic colleague could face if he agreed to a role in the GOP convention.