We’re continuing our election previews of key midterm races. This week, we’ve focused on the Pennsylvania Senate race between Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman.
Pennsylvania Senate Preview
In the wake of Republican Senator Pat Toomey’s announcement that he would not seek re-election, Republicans and Democrats scrambled to find a strong candidate in hopes of taking the toss-up seat. Both parties are clawing away at the close race in hopes of taking a key seat, which could determine the balance of power in the Senate come November.
Mehmet Oz
Dr. Oz is a political newcomer who has built a strong name-ID based on his celebrity status. He is a medical doctor and retired surgeon who hosted a long-running daytime talk show for more than a decade. Oz is the child of immigrants and the first Muslim senate nominee from either major political party.
He was able to win the Republican nomination on the heels of a Trump endorsement. His platform is centered on his medical experience, bashing the overreaching response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as a pro-life message. Other major issues include energy independence and stopping illegal immigration.
John Fetterman
Fetterman has served as the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania since 2019. Prior to that, he served as the mayor of Braddock for more than a decade, a tiny town outside Pittsburgh. Fetterman markets himself as a working-class politician, wearing baggy sweatshirts and describing himself as “just a dude.”
Fetterman was able to secure the Democratic nomination, despite suffering a stroke just before the primary. Since then, he has limited public appearances, and interviews, and is yet to debate Dr. Oz. This has led to some concerns about his health, despite his campaign’s claims that he is only having some “auditory processing” difficulties.
Some reporters have claimed Fetterman has been unable to participate in basic small talk when they have spoken to him, while others have pushed back on that assessment. He has required closed captioning to participate in interviews and is still limiting public appearances.
What do the polls say?
The Real Clear Politics average indicates that Fetterman holds a 3.4-point lead over Oz, but that lead has narrowed since the summer when polls forecasted a double-digit lead for the Democratic nominee.
Impact
Republicans feel they need to hold this seat in hopes of taking control of the Senate in November. Picking it up would give Democrats extra cushion in other competitive races. In a year where every single battleground seat matters for the majority, both parties are doing everything they can to win this race.
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The views expressed in this article are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Lone Conservative staff.
