Statewide candidates in <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> are focusing on the suburbs of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/philadelphia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philadelphia</a> on Election Day.
Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz and Democratic Lt. Governor John Fetterman are vying for the commonwealth’s open seat in the U.S. Senate, while Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano and Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro are competing in the gubernatorial race. While the former race is neck-and-neck and the latter favors the Democrat, all four candidates converged upon the outskirts of the City of Brotherly Love.
Former President Barack Obama joined President Joe Biden in a rally with both Democratic candidates in Philadelphia on Saturday, while former President Donald Trump campaigned alongside Oz in the western Pennsylvania city of Latrobe. Oz and Fetterman then hosted competing events in Bucks County on Sunday, according to a <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/06/pennsylvania-fetterman-oz-midterm-elections-00065333" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Politico.
Oz held his final campaign event in Montgomery County on Monday evening, drawing a crowd of roughly 1,500 supporters, according to a statement from the candidate provided to The Daily Wire. “This election is our chance to put Pennsylvania and America back on the path to prosperity,” he remarked. “I believe that, together, we can make our streets safer. I believe we can have all-the-above energy solutions. I believe we can lower inflation and healthcare costs. And, most importantly, I believe in all of you to help save the soul of America.”
Mastriano held an <a href="https://twitter.com/Jules31415/status/1589737504462495744" target="_blank" rel="noopener">event</a> in Telford, a borough of Bucks and Montgomery County, on Monday evening. On Tuesday, both Shapiro and Oz cast their ballots at polling places in Montgomery County. The former candidate served as a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners before attaining his current post in Harrisburg.
“I am very proud of how we’ve run this campaign,” Oz said in another statement provided to The Daily Wire. “Pennsylvanians are sending a clear message to Washington: we want less radicalism and more balance.”
Oz has indeed criticized Fetterman for his left-leaning agenda while positioning himself as a moderate. During the nominees’ <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only debate</a> at the end of last month, Oz drilled his opponent on crime policy and immigration. When moderators pressed Oz to harmonize his support of rape and incest exemptions with his pro-life position, the candidate said that he would leave all abortion policy to the states should he gain a seat in Congress.
Biden defeated Trump in Montgomery County by 62.6% to 36.4%, according to <a href="https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/CountyResults?countyName=Montgomery&amp;ElectionID=83&amp;ElectionType=G&amp;IsActive=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">records</a> from the Pennsylvania Department of State. The <a href="https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/CountyResults?countyName=bucks&amp;ElectionID=83&amp;ElectionType=G&amp;IsActive=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">results</a> were much narrower in Bucks County, with Biden clinching 51.7% and Trump securing 47.3%, although the former commander-in-chief had won the area in 2016.
Abortion is a particularly salient issue in the Philadelphia suburbs. On the issue, which Fetterman contended is “healthcare” in the debate against Oz, Democrats are hoping for a windfall as voters react against the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
Throughout the midterm election cycle, Democratic candidates have received criticism from inside and outside their institutions for discussing fringe issues while neglecting kitchen-table matters such as inflation and school choice. Third Way, a center-left think tank, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-democrats-admit-party-is-too-extreme-out-of-touch-with-what-voters-care-about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> on Monday that the Republicans maintain double-digit advantages over their rivals on the economy and immigration, with roughly 56% saying that Democrats “are not focused enough on the economy” and only 36% expressing the same about their opponents.

President Biden And Former President Obama Campaign In Philadelphia For State’s Democratic Candidates

Philadelphia Suburbs Front And Center As Pennsylvania Candidates Make Final Push

Pennsylvania Candidates Zero In On Philadelphia Suburbs Heading Into Midterms

2022 Midterms

Dr. Oz

Elections

John Fetterman

Mehmet Oz

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Politics

Democratic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Senate candidate John Fetterman&#8217;s campaign event didn&#8217;t &#8220;blow over&#8221; too well.
At a rally with former President Barack Obama in Oakland, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, a sudden gust of wind knocked over the American flags behind the rally stage while Fetterman was speaking. Twitter users reacted to a clip of the incident, with many users interpreting it as a metaphor for Fetterman&#8217;s and Democrats&#8217; prospects in the midterm elections on Tuesday, or a sign from Heaven about the state of the country with Democrats in power.
The original clip was shared by RNC Research Saturday afternoon. While Fetterman stood at the podium, looking down his speech, strong gusts of wind can be heard. The wind picks up several large American flags in the background, and one by one, the flags topple over. “John Fetterman’s rally is off to a great start&#8230;&#8221; RNC Research wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
John Fetterman’s rally is off to a great start&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/51UtJQ9cM8">pic.twitter.com/51UtJQ9cM8</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1588921837903380489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
Twitter users immediately mocked the unfortunate incident, interpreting it as a metaphor for Fetterman&#8217;s collapse in the polling, Democrats in the upcoming midterms, and the state of the country with the Democratic Party in power.
&#8220;The perfect metaphor for Fetterman&#8217;s campaign,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1588929833962450944?s=20&amp;t=6FvI56naoduhqQyDJl706w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump Jr.</a> trolled.
&#8220;A perfect metaphor for Democrats’ control of Congress,&#8221; Republican National Committee chairwoman <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPChairwoman/status/1588946246491938821?s=20&amp;t=bPrHOp21xoVE8HTztXAkdg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ronna McDaniel</a> commented.
&#8220;Democrat candidates going into Tuesday in a single shot. 🤣,&#8221; TownHall columnist <a href="https://twitter.com/BuzzPatterson/status/1588930605764743170?s=20&amp;t=6Ki6l9I0rwIESXdvg_rd8A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buzz Patterson</a> tweeted.
&#8220;Everyone was blown over by his charisma,&#8221; radio host <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelBerrySho/status/1588934433331380231?s=20&amp;t=pLymlSV2Zgp7gVfAedX0PQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Berry</a> mocked.
&#8220;After listening to @JohnFetterman it might make more sense to fly the American flag upside down,&#8221; former Republican Wisconsin Governor <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottWalker/status/1588946614659710976?s=20&amp;t=BxVvgQGKqmKNQIbPicGOFw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott Walker</a> wrote.
&#8220;What a visual for a sunken candidate,&#8221; Club for Growth Vice President of Government Affairs <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottTParkinson/status/1588938325226033152?s=20&amp;t=_Jb1enxhK8IJjROMkID29Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott T. Parkinson</a> said.
&#8220;God works in mysterious ways,&#8221; one Twitter user added.
&#8220;…[I]t’s all falling down for democrats…&#8221; said another.
&#8220;America if @JohnFetterman wins,&#8221; another user wrote.
Whether or not the flags falling over is a sign of anything, Fetterman&#8217;s collapse in polling is a tangible warning sign about the state of his campaign. Fetterman led consistently in polling through the spring and summer, but Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz has taken the lead in most major public polling since the two candidates debated on October 25.
A poll from <a href="https://www.fox29.com/news/insideradvantage-fox-29-poll-oz-rallies-ahead-fetterman-shapiro-maintains-lead-over-mastriano" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsiderAdvantage/FOX 29</a> Philadelphia puts Oz ahead by two points, 48%-46%; another survey from <a href="https://application.marketsight.com/app/ItemView.aspx?SharedFor=director%40bigdatapoll.com&amp;SharedBy=34090&amp;id=33f29ead-0ade-438d-aa4d-af3d01590f0c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Big Data Poll</a> found the same margin; so did a third poll from the <a href="https://www.thetrafalgargroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TRF-PA-General-1103-Poll-Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trafalgar Group</a>.
Both candidates have also employed signs as a campaign device. Ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles&#8217; primetime matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on October 16, Fetterman bought billboards on both sides of I-95 outside Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles&#8217; home stadium. The billboards labeled Oz a Cowboys fan, part of the campaign&#8217;s effort to portray Oz as an out-of-state carpetbagger. “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dr-oz-is-a-cowboys-fan-fetterman-appeals-to-philadelphia-sports-fans-as-pennsylvania-senate-race-gets-even-tighter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Oz is a Cowboys fan</a>,” the billboard read, alongside a photo of Oz dunking a football over a goalpost at AT&amp;T Stadium, home of the Cowboys. “Elect a real Pennsylvanian. Vote Fetterman for Senate on Nov. 8th.” Before he was running for office, Oz publicly professed himself as an Eagles fan.
Oz used his own signage as a means to troll Fetterman during a Democratic fundraiser in Philadelphia with President Joe Biden On October 29. A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oz-parks-mobile-billboard-playing-debate-against-fetterman-outside-democrat-fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mobile billboard</a> drove around the Philadelphia Convention Center, playing the entirety of the October 25 debate.
“Pennsylvanians deserve to see this debate as much as possible since John Fetterman ducked six others,” Dr. Oz for Senate communications director Brittany Yanick said in a statement at the time. “He won’t be able to escape it during his fundraiser with the inflator-in-chief.” Dr. Oz shared a news hit from Fox News in a tweet, in which the billboard pulls up to a traffic light, playing the debate, while a reporter speaks to camera.

Former President Barack Obama Attends Rally For Pennsylvania Candidate For Governor John Fetterman In Pittsburgh

‘Perfect Metaphor’: American Flags Fall Down At Fetterman’s Rally. Conservatives See A Sign From Above, And An Omen For Democrats.

Conservatives See A Sign From Above, And An Omen For Democrats After American Flags Fall Down At Fetterman's Rally

Twitter

Weather

&#8220;The View&#8221; host <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/topic/sunny-hostin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunny Hostin</a> heaped praise on Pennsylvania Democrat Senate candidate <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/talking-heads-claim-dr-oz-was-bullying-fetterman-its-so-un-empathetic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Fetterman</a> during his Friday appearance on the midday talk show before setting him up with a question designed to help him attack his opponent, Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Fetterman joined the show remotely, reading the questions from closed captions in an effort to mitigate his ongoing auditory processing struggles — and while co-hosts Joy Behar and Ana Navarro asked about his health and whether he felt he&#8217;d been transparent with Pennsylvanians, Hostin dismissed those concerns and declared that he looked and sounded fine to her.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Sara Haines claims, without evidence, that Fetterman&#39;s problems &quot;are not cognitive&quot; and touts the letter from his donor saying he&#39;s fine. She then tees him up to attack Dr. Oz for his wealth and mansions. <a href="https://t.co/VY59bx3p2W">pic.twitter.com/VY59bx3p2W</a>
&mdash; Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/1588558938542424064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Co-hosts Joy Behar and Ana Navarro led off, with Behar asking Fetterman whether he and his doctors believed he&#8217;d make a full recovery (he said they did) and Navarro asking whether releasing doctors&#8217; notes rather than his full medical records provided enough transparency for potential voters (again, he said they did).
Hostin followed, referencing Fetterman&#8217;s only televised debate against Dr. Oz.
&#8220;Well, I think you look and sound great,&#8221; she began, mentioning the debate and noting that Fetterman and his campaign team had admitted beforehand that a debate setting was not going to be easy for him.
&#8220;I think it was an incredibly courageous and brave thing for you to show what healing from a stroke looks like. That&#8217;s incredibly brave,&#8221; Hostin continued, pivoting to give Fetterman an assist in attacking Oz. &#8220;On the other hand, Dr. Oz, a cardiac surgeon, in my view came off as a bully.&#8221;
Hostin went on to slam Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, saying she had mocked Fetterman&#8217;s difficulties.
&#8220;Does any of this surprise you, a man with a Harvard masters degree?&#8221; Hostin pivoted back to praising Fetterman. &#8220;Do you think the people of Pennsylvania saw what they needed to see from you to gain their vote?&#8221;
Fetterman did not really answer Hostin&#8217;s direct question, saying simply that he believed the important thing was that he showed up at the debate at all, adding that it was &#8220;much more pleasant&#8221; to have a conversation with the hosts of &#8220;The View&#8221; than it was for him to share a debate stage with Dr. Oz.

PA Democratic Senate Candidate John Fetterman Campaigns Ahead Of Midterm Election

Sunny Hostin Praises Fetterman, Tees Up Attack On Dr. Oz In Softball Interview

Media

Sunny Hostin

An opinion piece in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/usa-today" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA Today</a> lauded Democratic candidate John Fetterman for his performance against Republican rival <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/mehmet-oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mehmet Oz</a>, who the author claimed &#8220;belittled and bullied&#8221; his opponent in the only debate ahead of the contentious Pennsylvania Senate <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/2022-midterms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">election</a>.
Fetterman, the commonwealth’s lieutenant governor who has struggled with cognition following a stroke in May, floundered during last week’s first and only <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debate</a> between the two nominees. Luke Visconti, an opinion contributor for USA Today and the founder of DiversityInc, a publication focused on diversity management, contended in a Sunday <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2022/10/30/john-fetterman-stroke-highlights-bullying-misinformation-disabilities/10618369002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> that Fetterman was “brave” for facing his opponent.
“As I watched Fetterman’s debate performance, I did so with great pride and admiration … Average people are often crushed by the circumstances he’s fighting to rise above,” Visconti, a fellow stroke victim, asserted. “I don&#8217;t think it was ‘painful’ to watch him in his debate, as some have suggested. It was a courageous example of a person rising above an obstacle in his path, willing to suffer indignities from people trying to take advantage of his disability as well as simply cruel and ignorant people.”
Commentators on both sides of the aisle have nevertheless <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/it-requires-competency-former-pennsylvania-senator-rick-santorum-on-whether-john-fetterman-can-do-the-job-with-serious-health-issues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called attention</a> to Fetterman’s health struggles and the questions they raise about his service in Congress, which Visconti failed to address. The editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pittsburghs-top-newspaper-endorses-oz-sees-through-fettermans-blue-collar-branding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that Fetterman has wrongly characterized Oz’s “legitimate calls” for him to release health records as “mean-spirited and insensitive,” which indicates a worrying lack of transparency. Gisele Barreto Fetterman, the wife of John Fetterman, likewise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ableist-toward-the-disability-community-john-fettermans-wife-tells-nbc-to-apologize-for-asking-about-his-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rebuked</a> an NBC News journalist who reported on his cognitive challenges by calling for “some accountability” and labeling her an “ableist.”
Visconti, however, said that critics were equating an “auditory processing disorder” with a “lack of intelligence” in a bigoted manner, although Oz has never appeared to have questioned Fetterman’s intellect. “This type of bullying cannot be accepted,” he continued. “The fact that anyone would leverage a widely held misconception for political gain, especially a medical doctor, is disgusting.”
Visconti also cited a comment from an Oz campaign staffer who said that Fetterman could have avoided a stroke if he had “ever eaten a vegetable in his life,” as well as a mocking list of concessions Oz was prepared to make after Fetterman continually refused to debate him. Among the items on the list was a promise not to “intentionally hurt John’s feelings” and to allow “John to have all of his notes in front of him.” Fetterman struggled last week despite the Oz campaign agreeing to let him use a closed captioning system placed behind the moderators.
“John Fetterman has demonstrated himself to be a fighter — a man with courage, drive and a remarkable lack of self-pity. He also must have a great support system around him, especially a supportive and loving family,” Visconti remarked. “No matter how one feels about his political opinions, I think having leaders who have overcome substantial challenges with enough humility to expose themselves to public scrutiny encourage and embolden others who face challenges.”
Despite Visconti’s call for empathy and understanding while Fetterman recovers, some have questioned whether the nominee would truly make any more substantial improvements. Huma Sheikh, a neurologist specializing in migraines and strokes, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/neurologist-who-watched-fetterman-debate-casts-doubt-on-prospect-for-further-recovery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo after the debate that Fetterman likely has Broca’s aphasia, where victims see the most improvement within the first three to six months.
The race for Pennsylvania’s open seat in the Senate could determine which party controls Congress. Over the past few weeks, Oz has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trafalgar-founder-on-poll-indicating-pa-senate-race-tightening-people-starting-to-pay-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gained in the polls</a> after months of Fetterman holding a substantial lead, rendering the contest a toss-up the week before Election Day.

Democratic Senate Candidate John Fetterman Holds Campaign Rally In Erie, PA

USA Today Opinion Piece: I Watched With ‘Pride And Admiration’ As Fetterman Debated Oz, Who ‘Belittled And Bullied’ Him

USA Today Opinion Piece Lauds Fetterman For Debate Performance While Ignoring His Lack Of Transparency

U.S. Senate

USA Today

The <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pittsburgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pittsburgh</a> Post-Gazette endorsed Republican Dr. <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/mehmet-oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mehmet Oz</a> over Democrat John Fetterman in the heated <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Senate race that has garnered nationwide attention.
The <a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2022/10/30/pennsylvania-senate-endorsement-mehmet-oz-john-fetterman/stories/202210210102" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsement</a> from the Steel City’s largest newspaper comes one week after Fetterman, the commonwealth’s lieutenant governor who has struggled with cognition following a stroke in May, floundered during a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debate</a> between the two nominees. According to the publication’s editorial board, Oz has more effectively proven his willingness to interact with voters, while the status of Fetterman’s health raises significant concerns.
“His lack of transparency, however, in refusing to release his medical records is troubling. It suggests an impulse to conceal and a mistrust of the people,” the editorial board wrote of Fetterman. “All candidates for a major elected office should release their medical records, as did Mr. Oz. If you want privacy, don’t run for public office.”
The editorial board added that Fetterman wrongly characterized Oz’s “legitimate calls” for him to release health records as “mean-spirited and insensitive.” Gisele Barreto Fetterman, the wife of John Fetterman, likewise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ableist-toward-the-disability-community-john-fettermans-wife-tells-nbc-to-apologize-for-asking-about-his-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rebuked</a> an NBC News journalist who reported on his cognitive issues by calling for “some accountability” and labeling her an “ableist.”
Among other issues with Fetterman, the editorial board did not go along with Fetterman’s branding as a blue-collar, rust-belt American, noting that “despite his hoodies and shorts,” he has “little experience in holding real jobs or facing the problems of working people.” They observed that Fetterman has benefited from his family’s wealth for his entire adult life, which enabled him to make a full-time job of serving as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-blighted-rust-belt-town-where-john-fetterman-was-mayor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small Pittsburgh-area town</a> that pays its top executive $1,800 per year.
As economic issues are the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-midterm-poll-spells-bad-news-for-democrats-on-the-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most pressing</a> concern for voters nationwide, residents in energy-rich western Pennsylvania have their eye on the practice of fracking as a means of boosting the state economy. Fetterman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-called-out-for-attacks-on-fracking-cant-respond-when-asked-why-he-changed-views" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggled</a> during the debate when asked to justify his past opposition to fracking, saying “with a straight face” that he always supported the technique, as noted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In contrast, the editorial board concluded that Oz had “achieved his worldwide fame and success largely through his own talent and determination.” Commending his willingness to spend a significant amount of time listening to voters in poor urban areas, they believe he could continue the “Pennsylvania tradition of moderate Republicans” in the Senate.
“We’re encouraged that Mr. Oz is portraying himself as a unifier who will work with Democrats to get things done for Pennsylvania,” the editorial board wrote. “It remains to be seen whether he can pull that off, but he has the potential to become an influential, thoughtful and independent senator. Mr. Oz is likable, engaging, extremely smart and a good listener. Yes, he can sound like a smooth-talking salesman, but that may be what it takes to get deals done in Washington.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which has shifted toward the right in recent years, made waves when it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pittsburgh-post-gazette-endorses-trump-first-time-paper-has-endorsed-republican-since-1972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsed</a> President Donald Trump for re-election, marking the first time the outlet had backed a Republican in nearly half a century as the best choice of commander-in-chief for western Pennsylvania. The endorsement of Trump, who endorsed Oz in this cycle, against President Joe Biden also centered upon economic issues crucial for workers in the region.

Pittsburgh’s Top Newspaper Endorses Oz, Sees Through Fetterman’s Blue-Collar Branding

Pittsburgh's Top Newspaper Endorses Oz Over Fetterman

Pittsburgh

Republican <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz has taken the lead in the race, according to a new poll.
The poll of 750 likely voters, conducted by independent pollster <a href="https://insideradvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/InsiderAdvantage-PA-Poll-Oct-26th-a1.xls.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsiderAdvantage</a> on October 26, the day after Pennsylvania&#8217;s key Senate debate, showed Oz with a lead of just under three points against Democratic candidate John Fetterman. The poll also found that a majority of voters thought that Oz won the debate. The poll comes after previous polls showed Fetterman with slight leads as the race has gotten much tighter in recent weeks.
According to the poll, Oz holds a 2.7-point lead over Fetterman, 47.5% to 44.8%. 3.6% of voters were undecided. Looking at the poll&#8217;s crosstabs, Oz leads with a number of key groups: he holds a two-point lead among white voters, 47.7% to 45.7%; he leads among 18-39 year-old voters, 46.9%-44%; among 40-64 year-olds, Oz has a 14-point lead, 53.4%-39.4%; Oz also pulled in nearly two thirds of independent voters, 65.9%, while Fetterman pulled in just 22.5%.
The poll included two bonus questions relating to the Senate debate on on October 25. When asked, &#8220;[h]ave you personally seen or listened to at least part of the debate, either live or in the media afterwards?&#8221; most voters, 83.2%, said they had, while 16.5% said they haven&#8217;t.
The poll then asked: &#8220;Regardless of which candidate you are voting for, who do you believe won the debate itself, John Fetterman or Mehmet Oz?&#8221; Voters claimed Oz won by more than a 2-to-1 margin; 53.6% of voters said Oz won the debate, while just 20.5% said Fetterman won; 25.9% were undecided.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ArBOzBgA0k" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ArBOzBgA0k" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-53601">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ELECTION WIRE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND POLLING ON THE UPCOMING MIDTERMS</a>
InsiderAdvantage also polled the governor’s race, and showed that Democrat Josh Shapiro leads Republican Doug Mastriano, 50.2%-41.8%.
The InsiderAdvantage poll came after Oz and Fetterman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debated</a> on Tuesday. The two nominees exchanged barbs on a variety of topics, from abortion and crime to fracking and inflation, as the Democrat painted his opponent as a liar and the Republican argued that his rival is radically progressive.
Fetterman, who suffered a stroke days before the primary elections that placed him in the hospital and removed him from the campaign trail for months, faltered and provided choppy responses as Oz, a veteran television host, aggressively pressed his opponent and occasionally exceeded his time limits.
Fetterman&#8217;s performance was met with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-faces-fallout-from-disastrous-debate-worst-performance-by-any-candidate-i-have-ever-seen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fallout</a> from observers on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hi-goodnight-everybody-even-liberals-admit-fettermans-debate-performance-was-abysmal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">both sides</a> of the aisle, who pointed out that Fetterman&#8217;s stroke had seriously impaired his ability to communicate; some commentators blasted Fetterman&#8217;s team for exposing him to nationwide ridicule, while others lamented that even with weeks of prep time and significant accommodations, he still struggled to answer questions effectively.
The InsiderAdvantage poll followed another poll that showed Oz with a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-pa-poll-shows-oz-with-4-5-point-lead-over-fetterman-mastriano-in-striking-distance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4.5-point lead</a>. The poll of 1,013 likely voters, conducted by market research firm Wick between October 9-13, found that Oz led by 4.5 points over Fetterman, 49.1%-44.6%. Another 3.4% are voting for someone else, and 2.9% are undecided. Among those undecided voters, Oz held a sizable lead, 59%-41%.
InsiderAdvantage previously showed Oz and Fetterman tied at 46% in another poll the firm conducted in partnership with Fox 29 Philadelphia. InsiderAdvantage chairman Matt Towery said in a statement to Fox 29 that Oz’s surge was coming largely from self-described independent voters, who are breaking for Oz by twenty points; Oz was also leading with Hispanics, and was taking 14% of the black vote away from Fetterman as well.

Pennsylvania Senate Candidate Mehmet Oz Delivers Remarks At ‘A Dose of Reality’ Town Hall

First Post-Debate Poll Shows Oz Breaking Away With Nearly 3-Point Lead In Pennsylvania

Poll

Amy Schumer labeled Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz a &#8220;bully&#8221; as she threw support behind Democratic Pennsylvania senatorial candidate John Fetterman following his incoherent debate Tuesday night.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/amy-schumer">41-year-old</a> comedian, who lives in Manhattan, took to her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkL-uAkgFnv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">Instagram</a> on Wednesday to share a post that declared that Fetterman has the state&#8217;s &#8220;best interest at heart&#8221; as she promoted voting for the PA Lt. Governor ahead of the 2022 midterms.
&#8220;Thanks Dr.Oz but [John Fetterman] has Pennsylvania&#8217;s best interest at heart,&#8221; Schumer captioned her post. &#8220;Weird to see a doctor bully someone over a medical incident but whatever.&#8221;
&#8220;Also for AZ [Sen. Mark Kelly] is THE MAN!!&#8221; she added, as she encouraged her 12 million followers to vote for Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) over Republican senatorial candidate Blake Masters in the upcoming election.
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The &#8220;Train Wreck&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/do-what-you-need-to-do-girl-amy-schumer-jokes-about-getting-abortions-in-teaser-for-series-return">star&#8217;s</a> post included a video of her clearly slamming the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/roe-v-wade">Roe v. Wade</a> as a result of the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women&#8217;s Health Organization. The ruling recognizes that there is no constitutional right to an abortion and returns the issue to the states, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/victory-pro-life-leaders-react-to-overturn-of-roe-v-wade">reported</a>.
At one point in the clip, Schumer depicted several members of the U.S. Supreme Court who voted in the Dobbs decision as skeletons. It is unclear if she is saying that these justices are dead or why they are seen this way. The photo she used appeared to be from the official photo that was taken of the justices in October of 2010 at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. The members who are shown in Schumer&#8217;s photo as skeletons include Justice Clarence Thomas, the late-Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice John Roberts, retired-Justice Anthony Kennedy and Justice Samuel Alito .
It was Justices Alito along with Justice Thomas, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett who were in the <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251550/supreme-court-justices-who-overturned-roe-v-wade">majority opinion</a> that ended up overturning the 1973 landmark ruling.
The comedian previously joked about traveling to Colorado to get abortions in a teaser clip as she promoted her series, &#8220;Inside Amy Schumer,&#8221; returning for a fifth season set to premiere on Paramount+ on October 20, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/do-what-you-need-to-do-girl-amy-schumer-jokes-about-getting-abortions-in-teaser-for-series-return">reported</a>.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amy-schumer-chelsea-handler-and-more-stars-react-to-overturn-of-roe-v-wade">Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler And More Stars React To Overturn Of Roe V. Wade</a>

94th Annual Academy Awards – Arrivals

Amy Schumer Labels Dr. Oz A ‘Bully,’ Throws Support Behind Fetterman After His Incoherent Debate

Amy Schumer

Celebrities

Entertainment

Roe v. Wade's Long And Brutal Legacy

Supreme Court

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/author/ben-shapiro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Shapiro</a> retraced the media’s ever-morphing reaction to Pennsylvania Senate candidate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hi-goodnight-everybody-even-liberals-admit-fettermans-debate-performance-was-abysmal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Fetterman</a> Wednesday, following the ailing Democrat’s disastrous <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debate performance</a> the previous night.
Shapiro told listeners to his popular podcast and radio show the Keystone State candidate, who suffered a stroke in May, has been protected by a sympathetic media. But after the hulking lieutenant governor stumbled through a series of incomprehensible answers in his debate against Republican <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dr-oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a>, there was no hiding his neurological issues.
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ben-shapiro-show/id1047335260" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE LATEST EPISODE OF &#8216;THE BEN SHAPIRO SHOW&#8217;</a>
&#8220;The media narrative went from &#8216;John Fetterman is fine,&#8217; to, as he was out on the campaign trail babbling, ‘John Fetterman may not be fine, but he&#8217;s fine enough to be in the Senate,&#8217; and then it went to, &#8216;If you notice that he&#8217;s not fine, then there is something deeply wrong with you,’” Shapiro said. “And now, after last night&#8217;s debate, the media have already swiveled to &#8216;It&#8217;s totally fine to have a nonfunctional stroke victim in the Senate.'&#8221;
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According to the media, John Fetterman is perfectly fine. Okay, maybe he&#39;s not fine, but you&#39;re ableist for noticing. <a href="https://t.co/cX9mzcHeFD">pic.twitter.com/cX9mzcHeFD</a>
&mdash; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1585349766095200256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Fetterman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-top-democrat-in-u-s-senate-race-in-pennsylvania-hospitalized-after-suffering-stroke">suffered the stroke</a> in May, just days before winning the Democratic primary against Rep. Conor Lamb. He was off the campaign trail for several months, although his team assured the public he was recovering. When he did finally return to the stump, he often seemed to struggle to speak. An NBC reporter who interviewed him was attacked by Fetterman supporters when she divulged that he had great difficulty conversing and relied on a computer to read questions posed in person.
In Tuesday’s debate, Fetterman greeted the audience by saying, “Hi. Goodnight everybody.” It didn’t get better as the night wore on.
A sampling of Fetterman’s quotes from the debate:
“I do support fracking — I don’t, I don’t — I support fracking, and I stand — and I do support fracking,” he stammered when confronted with his own conflicting past positions on the key issue.
“How can a man, you know, with with 10 gigantic mansions has — am willing to talk about willing wage for anybody?” Fetterman said in an attempt to attack his wealthy opponent. “Imagine a signal mom trying with two children trying to raise with them.”
Shapiro blamed Fetterman’s team and loved ones for allowing him to stay in the race after his brush with death.
&#8220;You gotta feel bad for the guy,” Shapiro said. “I mean honestly, the guy is a stroke victim, he&#8217;s obviously not functioning properly, he&#8217;s being put in front of millions of people to demonstrate his inability to process language.
&#8220;It&#8217;s embarrassing&#8230; not for him, but for his entire team,&#8221; he added.
Fetterman, who insisted on having closed captioning during the debate in order to read questions asked by the moderators, later blamed the system for his awkward pauses and answers that often bordered on gibberish.
&#8220;When you are relegated to blaming the closed captioning system, you have a massive problem on your hands,&#8221; Shapiro said.
Polls showed Fetterman and Oz were in a virtual dead heat before the debate. They are vying to replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey. With the Senate tied at 50-50, the Pennsylvania race is one of a handful of critical races being watched closely by a national audience.

Ben Shapiro

‘It’s Totally Fine’: Ben Shapiro Exposes Media’s Morphing Narrative On Stroke-Addled Fetterman

'It's Totally Fine': Ben Shapiro Exposes Media's Morphing Narrative On Stroke-Addled Fetterman 

Senate

The Ben Shapiro Show

Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman&#8217;s (D) wife faced backlash Tuesday night following her husband&#8217;s widely criticized debate performance.
Fetterman has faced scrutiny over his fitness for office after he suffered a stroke earlier this year. He has demonstrated that he sometimes struggles to understand words and has difficulty speaking, often needing conversations transcribed to understand what is being said.
Fetterman participated in an interview earlier this month with NBC News reporter Dasha Burns where he used a computer that transcribed the questions being asked by Burns so he could understand what she was saying.
After she interviewed Fetterman, Burns <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-senate-candidate-fetterman-forced-to-use-giant-screen-for-interview-this-guys-in-bad-shape">wrote,</a> in part: “Just in some of the small talk prior to the interview, before the closed captioning was up and running, it did seem that he had a hard time understanding our conversation.”
Fetterman&#8217;s wife, Gisele Fetterman, responded to Burns&#8217; remarks by wondering how there weren&#8217;t &#8220;consequences&#8221; against her.
Following Fetterman&#8217;s disastrous debate performance, numerous journalists called for there to be apologies made to Burns over the attacks that she faced over her reporting.
&#8220;Anyone who watched any part of the debate between Fetterman and Oz knows exactly what happened &#8211; whether they&#8217;re willing to admit or not &#8211; and people should read this thread, and remember what was done to @DashaBurns, to immediately see why people hate and distrust the media,&#8221; left-wing journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted.
Free Beacon reporter Alana Goodman tweeted, &#8220;Shame on every reporter who attacked @DashaBurns over her Fetterman reporting, and tried to cover up what we are all witnessing now with our own eyes.&#8221;
Gisele Fetterman faced backlash for allowing her husband to debate, given the current state of his condition.
&#8220;It’s Fetterman’s wife I don’t get. Her first job, only priority is the well being of her husband,&#8221; Breitbart columnist John Nolte tweeted. &#8220;He should be in a rehab facility. Why would she allow this? What kind of spouse would risk his health and betray his dignity in this way?&#8221;
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh tweeted: &#8220;Among other things, both Fetterman and Biden have awful women for wives. They could have steered their husbands away from humiliation on the world stage but they wanted prominence and power more than they wanted to protect their spouses.&#8221;
&#8220;Pennsylvanians will not have a problem with John Fetterman because he had a stroke,&#8221; National Review writer Jim Geraghty tweeted. &#8220;They will have a problem with Fetterman because he, his wife, his campaign, and his party weren&#8217;t honest about his condition &amp; recovery until it could no longer be hidden.&#8221;
Other notable responses included:
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One of the most important things to remember is Fetterman had his stroke before THE PRIMARY. 
He and his wife covered it up and have continued to cover up the extent of it. 
Pennsylvania voters — including Democrat voters — should be furious about this.
&mdash; Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1585077518473707520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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https://twitter.com/toddstarnes/status/1585068386601832448
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This Fetterman-Oz debate is absolutely shocking. <a href="https://twitter.com/DashaBurns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DashaBurns</a> was the only reporter who told the truth about Fetterman’s state. But it is so much worse than inability to track smalltalk. It is painful to watch this.
&mdash; Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) <a href="https://twitter.com/bariweiss/status/1585083869698871296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Where does Dasha Burns go to get her apology?
&mdash; Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichLowry/status/1585069150795341825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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If Dasha Burns was guilty of anything it was downplaying the extent of Fetterman’s problems. And recall all the feigned outrage. Gisele Fetterman demanding “consequences.” Etc
&mdash; David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/1585073221988417536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Fetterman’s Wife Slammed After Debate As Calls Grow For Apologies To Be Made To NBC Reporter

Fetterman's Wife Slammed After Debate As Calls Grow For Apologies To Be Made To NBC Reporter

Tuesday night&#8217;s debate between two Senate hopefuls in Pennsylvania turned out to be a disaster for one of them.
The performance of Democrat John Fetterman, who suffered a stroke over the summer and has clearly not fully recovered, was so bad even liberals were forced to admit just how truly awful it was.
The train wreck began from the first words the Lurch-like Fetterman uttered: &#8220;Hi. Goodnight, everybody.&#8221;
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What the &#8230;!?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Fetterman opens the debate: 
&quot;Hi. Good night everybody.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/mg0X3Iwf5D">pic.twitter.com/mg0X3Iwf5D</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1585060068932063233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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At one point, Fetterman was asked about his position on fracking, with a debate moderator noting he said in a 2018 interview that he completely opposed the practice.
&#8220;I do support fracking &#8212; I don&#8217;t, I don&#8217;t &#8212; I support fracking, and I stand &#8212; and I do support fracking,&#8221; he stammered.
At another point, Fetterman was asked: &#8220;Has the Biden administration overspent?&#8221;
Fetterman: “Here’s what I think we have to fight about inflation here right now.”
Huh?
Throughout the debate, Fetterman proved he is simply not cognitively able to serve in the Senate. His comprehension was so bad after his stroke that he had to have a giant teleprompter erected in order to read what his opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, was saying.
Of course, recovery from a stroke is difficult and everyone hopes Fetterman fully recovers. But it&#8217;s an odd time for him to seek a six-year gig in the world&#8217;s most exclusive debate club, where comprehension in fast-paced oratories is key.
Before the debate, Fetterman&#8217;s campaign said there would be &#8220;awkward pauses&#8221; and &#8220;delays and errors&#8221; as the candidate would be reading closed captioning because of his &#8220;auditory processing issue.&#8221;
Afterward, they declared victory and blamed Fetterman&#8217;s dismal performance on the closed captioning &#8212; which they had demanded.
“We are thrilled with John’s performance. He did remarkably well tonight — especially when you consider that he’s still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors. John won countless exchanges, counter-punched aggressively, and pushed back on Oz’s cruelty and attacks,” said Joe Calvello, Fetterman’s communications director.
Gary Weitman, communications chief for Nexstar, which ran the closed captioning, fired back, saying, &#8220;It is unfortunate that Mr. Fetterman is now criticizing the closed captioning process employed by Nexstar during tonight’s debate.”
&#8220;Both candidates agreed to the technical set-up for the closed captioning process weeks ago, which was implemented at the request of the Fetterman campaign. Both candidates were offered the opportunity for two full rehearsals with the same equipment used in tonight’s debate; Mr. Fetterman chose to do only one,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-campaign-blames-captioning-system-for-disastrous-debate-tv-company-sets-record-straight">said</a>.
At another point, a debate moderator asked: &#8220;You say that you will hold big corporations accountable for what you call price gouging. How will you do that?&#8221;
Fetterman: &#8220;Exactly. Dr. Oz has never seen an oil company he wouldn&#8217;t swipe right on.&#8221;
And at yet another point, while discussing the minimum wage, Fetterman said: &#8220;How can a man, you know, with with 10 gigantic mansions has &#8212; am willing to talk about willing wage for anybody? Imagine a signal mom trying with two children trying to raise with them.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
FETTERMAN: &quot;How can a man, you know, with with 10 gigantic mansion has am willing to talk about willing wage for anybody? Imagine a signal mom trying with two children trying to raise with them.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/hbqePfo8Of">pic.twitter.com/hbqePfo8Of</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1585062627473911808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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After the debate, CNN host Alisyn Camerota said she was unsettled by the spectacle. &#8220;I&#8217;ve interviewed him many times as lieutenant governor,&#8217; she said. &#8220;And he sounds &#8211; he&#8217;s sounded different before the stroke. In the interviews, he was much more, sort of, clear spoken than what I&#8217;m hearing.&#8221;
Some Democrats agree, with David Axelrod, a Democrat strategist who served as a senior adviser to Obama, <a href="https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod/status/1585077889136939008">writing</a> on Twitter: &#8220;&#8216;Fetterman needed to show he&#8217;s sufficiently recovered, and this debate surely did not help.&#8221;
Another huge liberal, former CNN host Chris Cuomo, said on his NewsNation show he was troubled by the performance.
&#8220;John Fetterman struggled,&#8221; Cuomo said. &#8220;He clearly is dealing with health issues that affect his ability to process and his ability to speak. Clearly, fitness for office is going to be on the table.&#8221;
&#8220;That may not be fair, to some, for me to say &#8211; but if the voters aren&#8217;t talking about it, I&#8217;ll be shocked,&#8221; Cuomo said.
Oh, they&#8217;re talking about it, Chris.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Shapiro Campaigns With John Fetterman In Philadelphia

‘Hi. Goodnight, Everybody’: Even Liberals Admit Fetterman’s Debate Performance Was Abysmal

Even Liberals Admit John Fetterman's Debate Performance Against Dr. Mehmet Oz Was Abysmal

David Axelrod

fetterman

The campaign for Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman (D) blamed the captioning system used during Tuesday night&#8217;s debate for his widely criticized performance.
Fetterman has faced scrutiny over his fitness for office after he suffered a stroke earlier this year. He has demonstrated that he sometimes struggles to understand words and has difficulty speaking, often needing conversations transcribed to understand what is being said.
During the debate, Fetterman repeatedly stammered, had awkward pauses, seemed to be out of sync with what was being said, and even had outbursts which included shouting at opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz (R) during closing statements.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ArBOzBgA0k" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ArBOzBgA0k" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-47549">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ELECTION WIRE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND POLLING ON THE UPCOMING MIDTERMS</a>
“We are thrilled with John’s performance. He did remarkably well tonight – especially when you consider that he’s still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors,&#8221; Fetterman for Pennsylvania communications director Joe Calvello claimed. &#8220;John won countless exchanges, counter-punched aggressively, and pushed back on Oz’s cruelty and attacks.”
Nexstar’s Chief Communications Officer Gary Weitman responded to the claims from the Fetterman campaign by revealing that they agreed to use the system deployed during the debate and that they did not take full advantage of practice sessions.
“It is unfortunate that Mr. Fetterman is now criticizing the closed captioning process employed by Nexstar during tonight’s debate,&#8221; Weitman said. &#8220;Both candidates agreed to the technical set-up for the closed captioning process weeks ago, which was implemented at the request of the Fetterman campaign.&#8221;
&#8220;Both candidates were offered the opportunity for two full rehearsals with the same equipment used in tonight’s debate; Mr. Fetterman chose to do only one,” Weitman continued. “In fact, Nexstar’s production team went to extraordinary lengths to ensure the effectiveness of the closed captioning process, and to accommodate several last-minute requests of the Fetterman campaign. The closed captioning process functioned as expected during rehearsal and again during tonight’s debate. We regret that Mr. Fetterman and his campaign feel otherwise.”
The two nominees exchanged barbs on a variety of topics, from abortion and crime to fracking and inflation, as Fetterman resorted to defending himself by claiming that Oz was not being honest while Oz stuck to portraying Fetterman&#8217;s policy views as being radically leftist.
Oz, repeatedly raising examples of conversations he has shared with Pennsylvanians over the past several months, blasted Fetterman, who did not commit during the debate to releasing his medical records, and on his absence from the campaign. In turn, Fetterman criticized Oz for his longtime residence in New Jersey. Even with a closed captioning system positioned behind the moderators designed to aid his auditory processing, Fetterman struggled to remain coherent.
Discussion on the state of the economy quickly turned to energy. Oz pointed to fracking and natural gas production as mechanisms for expanding living standards in Pennsylvania, while Fetterman insisted that he has “always supported” fracking when confronted with his past statements opposing the practice.
Ben Zeisloft contributed to this report. 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-called-out-for-attacks-on-fracking-cant-respond-when-asked-why-he-changed-views">Fetterman Called Out For Attacks On Fracking, Can’t Respond When Asked Why He Changed Views</a>

PA Democratic Senate Candidate John Fetterman Campaigns Ahead Of Primary Election

Fetterman Campaign Blames Captioning System For Disastrous Debate, TV Company Sets Record Straight

A new poll shows that Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mehmet-oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mehmet Oz</a> is leading Democrat John Fetterman.
The poll of 1,013 likely voters, conducted by market research firm <a href="https://my.wick.io/analysis/shared/item/F924DD41-8570-4647-8F03-DAA8BBA336D5/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wick</a> between October 9-13, found that Oz, the celebrity heart surgeon, leads by 4.5 points over Fetterman, the lieutenant governor, with just two weeks left before the 2022 midterms. The poll signifies that Oz may be breaking through a polling wall, as he has been behind Fetterman in polling for most of the cycle.
According to the poll, Oz leads Fetterman 49.1%-44.6%. Another 3.4% are voting for someone else, and 2.9% are undecided. Among those undecided voters, Oz has a sizable lead, 59%-41%.
The poll also showed that Republican Doug Mastriano is within the margin of error against Democrat Josh Shapiro in the Pennsylvania Governor&#8217;s race. Shapiro leads Mastriano 48.5%-46.4%; that number is well within the poll&#8217;s 3.1% margin of error. Mastriano also holds a slight lead among undecided voters; 50.9% of undecideds break for Mastriano, while 49.1% break for Shapiro.
The Wick poll was followed by another poll that showed the race was effectively tied. An <a href="https://www.fox29.com/election/insideradvantage-fox-29-poll-fetterman-oz-neck-and-neck-as-shapiros-lead-narrows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">InsiderAdvantage/Fox29 news poll</a> showed that Oz and Fetterman were tied at about 46% apiece. InsiderAdvantage chairman Matt Towery explained that Oz&#8217;s surge was coming largely from self-described independent voters, who are breaking for Oz by twenty points.
“Oz is also picking an unusually high 14% of the African American vote and Asians and Hispanics prefer Oz[,] say they are voting for Oz by a wide margin,&#8221; Towery added. &#8220;Fetterman continues to enjoy a ten-point lead among female voters, while men prefer Oz at that same rate.&#8221;
The same poll found that Mastriano is also surging in the governor&#8217;s race. Shapiro leads Mastriano 49%-42%, with 6% of voters undecided, but Towery explained that Mastriano is experiencing a similar wave of support from self-described independents: 18% of independents are breaking for the Republican, the poll found.
Undecideds may heavily favor the Republicans in both races. Just 44% of voters have a favorable opinion of Democratic President Joe Biden, while nearly 55% are unfavorable toward Biden.
The new polling follows a poll earlier this month from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trafalgar-founder-on-poll-indicating-pa-senate-race-tightening-people-starting-to-pay-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trafalgar Group and The Daily Wire</a>, which found that the race was much closer than <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2022/senate/pa/pennsylvania_senate_oz_vs_fetterman-7695.html#polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mainstream polling</a> had been showing. The poll found that Fetterman led Oz, 47.2%-44.8%, which was within the margin of error, with 4% undecided.
“We’ve always thought this race was a two or three-point race, and everybody else has finally come to join us on that conclusion,” Trafalgar Group founder and senior strategist Robert Cahaly told The Daily Wire. The race had tightened considerably because of concerns about Fetterman&#8217;s health and his record, especially on issues like crime. “The thought that your senator cannot hear spoken information and process it and make an argument is actually of great concern to people,” he said.
“What we’re seeing is people begin to realize what his record says … and people have a real problem with it,” Cahaly added. “Whether it’s his position to legalize drugs, including heroin, or getting rid of bail and letting people out of jails.&#8221;
Oz is also gaining a surprising amount of support from the black community. While most Republicans have garnered about 20% of black support, Oz has achieved some 30% support. “And that is completely unique to any other race that we’re watching,” Cahaly said.

New PA Poll Shows Oz With 4.5-Point Lead Over Fetterman, Mastriano In Striking Distance

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