<p>Supporters of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> claim that Senate Republican Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) is responsible for Senate losses because he failed to direct sufficient funding to candidates who ran with the endorsement of the former president. An analysis of campaign finance records by The Daily Wire explored whether that is true.</p>
<p>The most specific criticism came from Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, who <a href="https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/1591419413701746690" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Tucker Carlson that &#8220;McConnell decided to spend millions of dollars attacking a fellow Republican in Alaska instead of helping me defeat Mark Kelly. Had he chosen to spend money in Arizona, this race would be over.&#8221;</p>
<p>It is true that McConnell&#8217;s super PAC did not spend in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-democrat-incumbent-mark-kelly-defeats-republican-blake-masters-in-arizona-senate-race-projection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Masters race</a>, and that it spent $6 million in Alaska in a race between two Republicans. However, those are the only examples like that, and the amount in question was relatively insignificant given the total spending, and highly unlikely to have closed the substantial gap in votes in that race.</p>
<p>Overall, the charge of not spending heavily on Senate races is diametrically opposite the reality of McConnell&#8217;s super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund. It was by far the largest spender of any super PAC in the 2022 cycle. It spent $230 million, vastly exceeding what its Democrat counterpart, the Senate Majority PAC, spent. Trump&#8217;s super PAC, MAGA Inc., spent only 6% of what McConnell&#8217;s did. At $15 million, it ranked #12 among super PACs.</p>
<p>With the exception of Masters, McConnell&#8217;s super PAC ran ads helping all of the Senate candidates that Trump&#8217;s super PAC did. And the amounts of money it gave in each were far greater than what Trump&#8217;s super PAC gave.</p>
<p>In Georgia, McConnell&#8217;s PAC spent more than 10 times what Trump&#8217;s did pushing Herschel Walker across the finish line, at $38 million to $3.4 million. In Nevada, McConnell spent $26 million to Trump&#8217;s $2 million on Adam Laxalt. In Ohio, McConnell spent $32 million to Trump&#8217;s $2.3 million on J.D. Vance.</p>
<p>And in Pennsylvania, McConnell spent a whopping $52 million boosting Mehmet Oz. That massive spending was viewed as necessary because Oz was viewed as a poor candidate. He had little traction even among Pennsylvania Republicans until Trump&#8217;s endorsement. (At a major conference for conservative Pennsylvanians during the primary season, this reporter observed Oz&#8217;s table with not a single person in line, as throngs of grassroots conservatives queued up at the tables of other candidates.) Despite the race arguably being so close because of Trump&#8217;s Oz pick, Trump&#8217;s super PAC spent only $3.5 million supporting Oz&#8217;s campaign.</p>
<p>McConnell&#8217;s PAC also spent money in competitive Senate races that Trump&#8217;s did not, including in North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin.</p>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; padding-bottom: 15px;" colspan="3">SuperPAC spending in Senate general election</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center; padding-bottom: 15px;" colspan="3"><span style="color: green;">Green=McConnell</span>, <span style="color: orange;">Orange=Trump</span>, <span style="color: red;">Red=Other Republican</span>. <span style="color: blue;">Blue=Democrat</span></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">AK (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 5%;">$6M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 6%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$13M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">AK (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;"></td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$0M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">AZ (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: orange; float: left; color: black; width: 3%;">4M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 41%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$53M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">AZ (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 47%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$57M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">GA (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 32%;">$38M</div>
<div style="background: orange; float: left; color: black; width: 3%;">3M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 25%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$72M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">GA (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 60%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$72M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">NC (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 32%;">$38M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 22%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$65M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">NC (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 18%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$22M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">NH (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 13%;">$16M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 6%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$23M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">NH (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 19%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$22M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">NV (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 21%;">$26M</div>
<div style="background: orange; float: left; color: black; width: 2%;">2M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 25%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$57M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">NV (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 56%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$67M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">OH (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 27%;">$32M</div>
<div style="background: orange; float: left; color: black; width: 2%;">2M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 3%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$39M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">OH (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 13%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$16M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">PA (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 43%;">$52M</div>
<div style="background: orange; float: left; color: black; width: 3%;">3M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 41%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$105M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">PA (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 88%;"> .</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$106M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background: black; color: #ccc; width: 100%; border: 1px white solid;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">WI (R)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: green; float: left; width: 22%;">$26M</div>
<div style="background: red; float: left; width: 33%;">.</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$66M</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 10%;">WI (D)</td>
<td style="height: 1em; width: 80%;">
<div style="background: blue; float: left; width: 36%;">.</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 10%;">$43M</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Earning some conservatives&#8217; ire was the fact that the Senate Leadership Fund spent $6 million opposing Republican Kelly Tshibaka in an effort to help moderate Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski win. Because of Alaska&#8217;s ranked-choice voting system, the two Republicans are facing each other. Trump endorsed Tshibaka, but his super PAC did not pay for any ads in the race. Some Trump supporters believe that the $6 million would have been decisive if it was allocated to Arizona instead.</p>
<p>However, Masters already had a head start in outside spending thanks to billionaire Peter Thiel. Masters was supported by $53 million in super PAC spending, essentially tied with his opponent Mark Kelly, at $57 million. With spending so high already, it&#8217;s not clear that an extra $6 million would have made a difference. With 90% of votes counted as of Saturday night, <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/national/2022-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DecisionDeskHQ</a> has called the Arizona race for Kelly with a significant gap: 52% to 46%.</p>
<p>There was also no reason to assume that the $6 million would have been reallocated to Arizona instead of, say, Nevada, where Democrats were outspending Republican super PACs by a greater margin, and the race is <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/national/2022-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">far closer</a>. Additionally, it was Thiel who reportedly <a href="https://twitter.com/teddyschleifer/status/1591272582250385410" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backed away</a> from an additional $10 million in spending he was contemplating.</p>
<p>Trump&#8217;s own financial contribution to the Arizona Senate battle was $3.7 million, making up only 6% of Masters&#8217; outside cash. That&#8217;s despite Trump&#8217;s main PAC, Save America, taking in $107 million in the 2022 cycle, and having nearly <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00762591/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$70 million</a> in the bank as of October 19. If he had spent most of that money supporting his chosen Arizona candidate, Masters could have had double the super PAC spending of his opponent.</p>
<p>Instead, Trump set up a web page that purported to raise money for both himself and Masters. But hidden from the user — unless they clicked a toggle in the fine print — was the fact that for every $100 donated, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-spent-more-backing-trump-esque-candidates-in-primaries-than-trump-has" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$99 went to Trump and $1 went to Masters.</a> That&#8217;s despite Masters imminently facing a critical race and Trump not being on the ballot this year. Many donors may have refrained from giving directly to Masters after that, believing that they had already done their part.</p>
<div class="image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-453681" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/split4.png" alt="" width="465" height="512" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/10/split4.png 465w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/10/split4-272x300.png 272w" sizes="(max-width: 465px) 100vw, 465px" /></div>
<p>Masters spokeswoman Katie Miller did not object to the arrangement, telling The Daily Wire: “Blake is extremely grateful for all of President Trump’s support both financial and his energy and time spent campaigning in Arizona.&#8221;</p>
<p>If Masters views financial parity as key to closing the gap in votes, it is hard to fault the insignificant gap in outside spending versus campaign dollars, where Masters himself came out woefully short: Masters raised $12 million compared to $79 million by Kelly, the worst ratio of any of the Trump-backed Senate candidates. Campaign donations are limited to about $5,000 and, coming from ordinary people, can be a proxy for grassroots support. Because of this cap, super PACs don&#8217;t donate to campaigns, but they get around it by spending money on the campaign independently — though the lack of coordination with the campaign can diminish the strategic value.</p>
<p>It is true that Masters appears to have been snubbed by some national politicians, but the same people did not withhold cash from similarly America First candidates like Vance. The snub also appeared to extend beyond McConnell: The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which donates roughly $46,000 directly to candidates, also did not give to Masters, though it gave to other Trump-endorsed candidates like Vance, Oz, and Walker. The NRSC is chaired by Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who is not necessarily a McConnell ally: He is leading the charge in the Senate to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-lawmakers-push-for-change-in-congressional-leadership-after-lackluster-midterms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">postpone leadership elections</a> rather than blindly re-electing McConnell.</p>
<p><strong>Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-has-spent-more-money-opposing-georgia-republicans-than-he-has-supporting-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump Has Spent More Money Opposing Georgia Republicans Than He Has Supporting Them</a></strong></p>


Senate Moves Ahead On US Funding After Dropping Energy Bid

Is It True That McConnell Tanked Senate Races By Not Funding Candidates Like Masters?

2022 Election

Blake Masters

Donald Trump

Elections

Mehmet Oz

Mitch McConnell

Politics

Senate

<p>Former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> (R) reportedly threw his wife Melania Trump under the bus Wednesday after the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz lost against the incredibly weak Democrat nominee, John Fetterman.</p>
<p>&#8220;Trump is indeed furious this morning, particularly about Mehmet Oz,&#8221; a quote in a Fox News report <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-furious-over-oz-losing-pennsylvania-blames-wife-melania-endorsement-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;and is blaming everyone who advised him to back Oz – including his wife, describing it as not her best decision.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;There are people pushing Trump to reschedule his announcement next week, and several Rs have texted asking whether he will, but it’s risky and would be acknowledging he’s wounded by yesterday, something that some of his advisers insist is not the case,&#8221; the quote continued. &#8220;Worth remembering that Trump is a grown man who endorsed Oz over the objection of some of the people closest to him, and instead went beyond just endorsing and attacked Dave McCormick from the stage at a rally.&#8221;</p>
<p>Trump has spent the day blaming others for many of his key candidates either losing or struggling to win their races, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-attacks-republican-u-s-senate-nominee-don-bolduc-for-losing-after-trump-endorsed-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blaming the candidates</a> themselves for not embracing conspiracy theories. He even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-trump-celebrates-republicans-losing-key-u-s-senate-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated</a> Republicans losing a key U.S. Senate race.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-boasts-of-big-victory-for-his-candidates-hes-leaving-something-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bulk of the winners</a> in the races Trump endorsed came from safely Republican districts, with 16 of the candidates actually having run uncontested. Election results also show that 13 Trump-endorsed candidates lost in highly competitive or closely watched races. Of the 219 wins referenced by Trump, only around a dozen of those races were extremely competitive.</p>
<p>Trump has also spent the day trying to downplay the historic night that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) had in his re-election, suggesting that the votes he got in the presidential race were more impressive than the votes DeSantis got in a gubernatorial race even though DeSantis&#8217; margin of victory was roughly 6X larger than Trump&#8217;s.</p>
<p>“Now that the Election in Florida is over, and everything went quite well, shouldn’t it be said that in 2020, I got 1.1 Million more votes in Florida than Ron D got this year, 5.7 Million to 4.6 Million?” Trump said on social media. “Just asking?”</p>
<p>Comparing turnout for midterm elections to turnout for presidential elections may not be instructive, as voter participation in presidential elections is always higher. A more useful comparison could be margin of victory.</p>
<p>In 2020, Trump won the state by 3.3 points or 371,686 votes. DeSantis won the state last night by 19.4 points or 1,507,081 votes</p>
<p>DeSantis won 62 of Florida’s 67 counties, including 59 counties by double digits. DeSantis won Miami-Dade County, the largest county in the state and a Democrat stronghold, by 11 points. He won Palm Beach County, the third largest county in the state and another Democrat stronghold, by three points.</p>
<p><em>Hank Berrien contributed to this report.</em></p>
<p><strong>Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-attacks-desantis-i-got-more-votes-than-him-needs-to-be-more-gracious-to-me-i-won-his-primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump Attacks DeSantis: I Got More Votes Than Him, Needs To Be ‘More Gracious’ To Me. I Won His Primary.</a></strong></p>


PALM BEACH, FL-NOVEMBER 8: Former President Donald Trump addres

Trump ‘Furious’ Over Dr. Oz Losing To Fetterman, Blames His Wife Melania: Report

Trump 'Furious' Over Dr. Oz Losing To Fetterman, Blames His Wife Melania: Report

2022 Midterms

Melania Trump

Pennsylvania

<p>Democrat John Fetterman has won the hotly contested <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> Senate race against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, according to a projection.</p>
<p>DecsionDeskHQ made the <a href="https://twitter.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1590226618718785538">projection</a> at 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday.</p>
<p>&#8220;I will be the next U.S. senator from Pennsylvania thanks to all of you,&#8221; Fetterman told his supporters in a victory speech early Wednesday morning, adding, &#8220;This campaign has always been about fighting for everyone who&#8217;s ever been knocked down that ever got back up. This race is for the future of every community across Pennsylvania. &#8230; I&#8217;m proud of what we ran on.&#8221;</p>
<p>Oz called Fetterman Wednesday morning to concede the race, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mehmet-oz-calls-john-fetterman-officially-concede-pennsylvania-senate-race?intcmp=tw_pols" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Fox News.</p>
<p>&#8220;This morning I called John Fetterman and congratulated him. I wish him and his family all the best, both personally and as our next United States Senator,&#8221; Oz said in a statement to supporters.<em></p>
<p></em>&#8220;We are facing big problems as a country and we need everyone to put down their partisan swords and focus on getting the job done. With bold leadership that brings people together, we can create real change. As a Doctor, I always do my best to help others heal. That&#8217;s why I ran for Senate. I hope we begin the healing process as a nation soon,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The outcome concludes one of the most closely watched contests in this year’s </span><a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/2022-midterms"><span style="font-weight: 400;">midterm</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> election cycle. The race was marked by controversy over Fetterman&#8217;s health issues following his stroke in May. Two weeks before residents of the Keystone State took to the polls, Fetterman had provided </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate"><span style="font-weight: 400;">choppy responses</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> during the only debate as Oz pressed the current lieutenant governor and former mayor of Braddock on his left-leaning platform. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For months after the primary contests, polls </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/early-midterm-poll-has-dire-news-for-pennsylvania-republicans"><span style="font-weight: 400;">seemed to show</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Fetterman with a sizable lead over his celebrity surgeon rival. In the weeks leading up to the general election, however, Oz pulled into a dead heat with his opponent, with some polls placing him </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-pa-poll-shows-oz-with-4-5-point-lead-over-fetterman-mastriano-in-striking-distance"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ahead</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by slim margins.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oz, who had never run for public office, </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-winner-emerges-in-republican-primary-for-u-s-senate-seat-in-pennsylvania"><span style="font-weight: 400;">narrowly advanced</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from the Republican primary race against former Bush administration official and hedge fund executive David McCormick. The son of Turkish immigrants, Oz became the first Muslim to be nominated for a Senate seat by a major American political party. Meanwhile, Fetterman </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-democrats-pick-basketball-shorts-and-hoodie-clad-john-fetterman-over-rising-star-conor-lamb-in-senate-primary"><span style="font-weight: 400;">soundly defeated</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Congressman Conor Lamb and State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta in the Democratic primary, despite suffering a stroke mere days before Democrats cast their ballots.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fetterman, a six-foot-eight, 53-year-old politician, is known for wearing basketball shorts and a hoodie to campaign events. Although his doctor had </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hell-be-fine-pa-democratic-senate-nominee-cleared-by-doctor-to-campaign-after-suffering-a-stroke-days-before-primary"><span style="font-weight: 400;">published a letter</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> clearing him to run for office, Fetterman spent months away from the campaign trail. He then </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-john-fetterman-video-raises-questions-on-his-fitness-for-office-absolutely-cannot-debate-anyone"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stumbled and slurred</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> through remarks at multiple public appearances while his campaign </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-john-fettermans-wife-rushes-in-to-shield-him-from-a-question-about-debating-oz"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dodged questions</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> about whether Fetterman would debate Oz.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the campaign’s sole debate finally took place, Oz repeatedly raised examples of conversations he has had with Pennsylvanians over the past several months, blasting Fetterman on his absence from the campaign and his refusal to release his medical records. Even with a closed captioning system positioned behind the moderators designed to aid his auditory processing, Fetterman struggled to remain coherent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mainstream media outlets had generally downplayed Fetterman’s condition. His wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ableist-toward-the-disability-community-john-fettermans-wife-tells-nbc-to-apologize-for-asking-about-his-stroke"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rebuked</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> an NBC News journalist who reported that the nominee had problems understanding her even during small talk by calling for “some accountability” and labeling her “ableist.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fetterman stoked controversy as past comments and interviews surfaced throughout the campaign, showing that he has </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/im-for-decriminalizing-across-the-board-john-fetterman-has-repeatedly-nodded-to-woke-drug-policy"><span style="font-weight: 400;">nodded</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to drug decriminalization and monitored injection sites, as well as </span><a href="https://twitter.com/johnfetterman/status/1290280291458674689"><span style="font-weight: 400;">defended</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is currently </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-and-republicans-join-forces-to-investigate-philadelphias-woke-district-attorney"><span style="font-weight: 400;">under investigation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Republican and Democratic members of the Pennsylvania House for allegedly neglecting to enforce the city’s laws. In contrast to Oz’s success in the private sector, Fetterman received a salary of $1,800 during his tenure as mayor of Braddock, as well as five-figure annual allowances from his parents. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oz produced unease among some conservative Pennsylvanians due to his </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dr-oz-campaign-insists-he-has-always-been-pro-life-his-past-comments-indicate-otherwise"><span style="font-weight: 400;">uncertain</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> degree of support for abortion. During the debate, when moderators pressed Oz to reconcile 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. Democrats nationwide relied upon the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as a tailwind for producing high turnout.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond social policy, surveys consistently showed that voters had their eyes on the economy and cost of living more than any other issues. One </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-midterm-poll-spells-bad-news-for-democrats-on-the-economy"><span style="font-weight: 400;">poll</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from ABC News and The Washington Post found that 84% of voters identified the economy as their top concern.</span></p>


John Fetterman/Mehmet Oz

John Fetterman Wins Hotly Contested PA Senate Race Against Dr. Oz: Projection

John Fetterman Defeats Dr. Oz In PA Senate Race: Projection

John Fetterman

<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 <i>Roe v. Wade</i>.</p>
<p>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.</p>


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

Dr. Oz

Philadelphia

<p><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> Democratic lieutenant governor John Fetterman’s U.S. Senate campaign filed a lawsuit Monday against state election officials, arguing that mail ballots with an incorrect or blank date should be counted in Tuesday’s election.</p>
<p>Plaintiffs have asked a federal judge to order all mail ballots to be counted regardless of the date voters pen on the envelope. The lawsuit comes a week after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that officials should set aside and not count mail ballots with an incorrect or empty date.</p>
<p>”The date [requirement] imposes unnecessary hurdles that eligible Pennsylvanians must clear to exercise their most fundamental right, resulting in otherwise valid votes being arbitrarily rejected without any reciprocal benefit to the Commonwealth,” the <a href="https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/216-main29.pdf">lawsuit</a> reads.</p>
<p>Plaintiffs in the case argue that the date instruction has no relevance to determining whether an individual is qualified to vote under Pennsylvania law as long as voters cast ballots by the date of the election and meet the standard U.S. voter requirements.</p>
<p>The lawsuit alleges that election officials are rejecting “qualified voters who accidentally failed to write the date on their ballot envelope, and more still will be rejected when voters enter an incorrect date, such as their birthdate, instead of the date they completed or signed their ballot.”</p>
<p>Fetterman and his Republican opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz have been campaigning neck-to-neck for the congressional seat in the battleground state.</p>
<p>According to three separate polls from the Trafalgar Group, Big Data Poll, and InsiderAdvantage/FOX 29, Philadelphia voters have Oz up by two points in a race where every vote counts to determine the winner.</p>
<p>But without the support from state law to count mail ballots marked an incorrect or blank date, Democrats could likely lose tens of thousands of votes that would be thrown out.</p>
<p>Although it’s unclear how many ballots will be affected by the Supreme Court ruling, Democrats disproportionately use mail ballots over Republicans.</p>
<p>Democracy Docket <a href="https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/democrats-seek-to-intervene-in-pennsylvania-ballot-counting-lawsuit/">reports</a> that registered Democrats have returned 70% of approximately 14,000 mail-in and absentee ballots in Monroe County —  nearly four times the percentage ballots returned by Republican voters.</p>
<p>According to the lawsuit, Democrats argue that rejecting ballots without a correct date violates the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment, which says “a state cannot utilize election practices that unduly burden the right to vote.”</p>
<p>The Philadelphia Inquirer <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/john-fetterman-lawsuit-undated-mail-ballots-20221107.html?utm_source=t.co&amp;utm_campaign=Philly.com+Twitter+Account&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;cid=Philly.com+Twitter">reports</a> voting rights groups joined together to file a separate lawsuit in a Pittsburgh federal court following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling last week, arguing that county officials should not be allowed to toss out such ballots under the Materiality Provision of the Civil Rights Act, which has secured victories in similar cases.</p>
<p>Federal court officials have yet to set a hearing for the lawsuit.</p>


PA Democratic Senate Candidate John Fetterman Campaigns Ahead Of Midterm Election

Fetterman Campaign Sues Pennsylvania Election Officials To Have Ballots Without Dates And Incorrect Dates Counted

<p><a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Republican Senate candidate <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/mehmet-oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a> centered his final message to voters in <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pittsburgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pittsburgh</a> upon energy production and fighting crime.</p>
<p>The celebrity heart surgeon, who is running against Pennsylvania Lt. Governor and Democratic nominee John Fetterman, has criticized his rival for embracing extreme positions and failing to hear the concerns of voters in the Keystone State. In an <a href="https://triblive.com/opinion/candidate-statement-dr-mehmet-oz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Oz vowed that he would advance policies supportive of law enforcement resources as the region is gripped by the fentanyl crisis and increased lawlessness.</p>
<p>“As violent crime increases in Western Pennsylvania, our communities have become less safe and businesses have become negatively impacted as a result,” Oz wrote. “To tackle crime, I will vote to fund our police and support communities with the resources they need to keep violent criminals off the streets and ensure vulnerable populations have the help they need.”</p>
<p>Crime in the Steel City has increased considerably over the past three years. Homicides spiked 26% between 2019 and 2020, while incidents of gun violence and dispatches for shots fired soared between 2020 and 2021, according to <a href="https://tableau.alleghenycounty.us/t/PublicSite/views/CJ_Overall_Violence_Trends_PGH_8-22-17_v2/Home?%3Aembed=y&amp;%3AshowAppBanner=false&amp;%3AshowShareOptions=true&amp;%3Adisplay_count=no&amp;%3AshowVizHome=no">data</a> from the City of Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Oz also noted that “gas prices have gone through the roof and simple necessities like baby formula have become harder to get than fentanyl in our cities.” Indeed, western Pennsylvania is among the regions most impacted by the opioid crisis, with Allegheny County witnessing 719 overdose deaths last year, according to <a href="https://www.alleghenycounty.us/News/2022/6442478445.aspx#:~:text=PITTSBURGH%20%E2%80%93%20Dr.,of%20the%20Medical%20Examiner's%20office." target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from Chief Medical Examiner Karl Williams.</p>
<p>With respect to economic issues, Oz said that he would “fight to lower inflation and cut taxes” while working to “make Pennsylvania a leader in energy production.” Oz and Fetterman were <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">pressed</a> during their only <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">televised debate</a> on whether they support fracking, a method of harvesting fossil fuels core to the economic prosperity of western Pennsylvania. The former pointed to fracking and natural gas production as mechanisms for expanding living standards in the commonwealth, while the latter insisted he has “always supported” fracking when confronted by the moderators with his past statements opposing the practice.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“The results indicate that Democrats are underwater on issues voters name as their highest priorities,” a memo published by the group stated, “including the economy, immigration, and crime, they are perceived as distant from the electorate ideologically, and voters question whether the party shares essential values like patriotism and the importance of hard work.”</p>
<p>Democrats have staked their hopes on a pendulum-style reaction against the Supreme Court overturning <i>Roe v. Wade</i>. The issue of abortion, however, ranks a distant third among the issues most important to voters and is held at a similar level of priority as crime, an area in which Republicans also dominate.</p>


Former President Trump Holds Rally In Pennsylvania Ahead Of Midterms

Oz’s Closing Statement To Pittsburgh Voters: Less Crime, More Energy

Oz Makes Final Appeal To Pittsburgh Voters

Pittsburgh

<p style="font-weight: 400;">It must be nice to be able to spend campaign donations on cosplaying your boyhood hero.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">That’s what Pennsylvania Democrat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dr-phil-on-john-fettermans-fitness-for-office-hell-no-you-wouldnt-get-on-a-plane-if-he-was-pilot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Fetterman</a>, who is running for U.S. Senate despite an unimpressive record in public service and debilitating health problems, did in a cringeworthy 2016 ad now making the rounds on Twitter again. In a parody of the iconic 1979 Coca-Cola commercial featuring <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/very-disturbing-witness-recounts-fatal-incident-that-killed-steelers-qb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> legend &#8220;Mean&#8221; Joe Greene, the hulking Fetterman staggers wearily down a corridor, a sweaty towel slung over his shoulder, presumably after a debate drubbing.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">As in the original ad, a child offers him a bottle of Coke and words of inspiration. In the 2016 version, the kid wants to know why Fetterman eschews the suit and lapel pin favored by less slovenly seekers of public office. It’s a reference to another bit of cosplay for which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-fetterman-files-pennsylvania-democrat-brings-baggage-to-senate-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fetterman is famous</a>: sporting the Carhartt jacket, hoodie, and baggie shorts that he imagines his gritty constituents wear.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WHAT ON EARTH is this Fetterman ad&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/xNdMP8gm0P">pic.twitter.com/xNdMP8gm0P</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Kyle Martinsen (@KyleMartinsen_) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleMartinsen_/status/1588360460193202178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Fetterman shot the ad for his failed 2016 Democratic primary campaign for the Senate seat he now seeks again. It has resurfaced on social media, mostly posted as further evidence of what a weirdly delusional dude Fetterman has always been.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">As a gesture of gratitude, Fetterman throws the towel to the boy at the end of the ad. It’s an echo of Greene’s heartwarming, “Hey kid,” followed by the toss of his No. 75 game jersey in the original commercial. Which do you think would fetch more on eBay?</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Fetterman, of course, is no &#8220;Mean&#8221; Joe Greene. The son of a wealthy insurance executive, the 6-foot, 8-inch candidate, whose weight has topped 400 pounds, did reportedly play football at tiny Albright College, in Reading, Pa. Greene, obviously, was one of the greatest defensive ends in NFL history.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Nor is Fetterman a blue-collar hero from a Bruce Springsteen song, the other pose he likes to strike. He grew up rich and then took into his forties an “allowance” from his parents that would constitute a nice salary for most of Braddock, the small town where he served as mayor from 2006-2019.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Coca-Cola Classic ad: &#039;Mean&#039; Joe Greene [Full Version] (1979)" width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xffOCZYX6F8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Fetterman’s opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, 62, once played football, too. Although he prefers to talk about what he’s done since, Oz played safety for Division I Harvard University before going on to earn medical and MBA degrees from University of Pennsylvania. When the situation calls for something more formal than scrubs, Oz typically dons a suit. He cleans up a lot better than his opponent.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Fetterman, 53, who suffered a stroke in May that has sadly left him <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-totally-fine-ben-shapiro-exposes-medias-morphing-narrative-on-stroke-addled-fetterman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unable to quickly process and answer basic questions</a>, doesn’t need a new job. He, like Pennsylvania, needs a doctor. At a recent appearance at Penn State University, he discussed his gridiron career <a href="https://youtu.be/c3drmHw9rWY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in incomprehensible terms</a> that demonstrated his alarming neurological state.</p>
<p>“I think that anyone who ever plays football in high school was, you know, at kind of a trade out kind of football camp and there wasn’t any interest I have come play here,” he said.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">At their sole debate, Oz and Fetterman were asked which of the Keystone State’s two football teams they backed. Oz chose the Philadelphia Eagles and Fetterman his beloved Steelers. On Thursday, the Eagles defeated the Houston Texans to run their record to a league-best 8-0. The Steelers are mired in a rebuilding season with a 2-6 record that puts them at the bottom of their division. It’s just not their year.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">It&#8217;s not John Fetterman’s, either.</p>


PA Democratic Senate Candidate John Fetterman Campaigns Ahead Of Primary Election

Fetterman Posed As Mean Joe Greene In Cringe Campaign Ad, But Oz Was Better At Football, Too

Fetterman Posed As Mean Joe Greene In 2016 Campaign Ad, But Oz Was Better At Football, Too

<p><a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Lt. Governor and Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman purchased a $75,000 property in Braddock from his own nonprofit for a mere $1,100, according to a <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/604139269/Fetterman-Complaint-as-Filed-10252022#from_embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaint</a> from the Center for Accountability and Government Ethics.</p>
<p>The organization, a spinoff from the CPAC Foundation, contended that Braddock Redux, a nonprofit run by Fetterman and intended as a mechanism to revitalize the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-blighted-rust-belt-town-where-john-fetterman-was-mayor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blighted steel town</a> over which he was mayor, served as a means for a real estate deal between Fetterman and Jebediah Feldman, the vice president of the nonprofit’s board and deputy mayor of Braddock.</p>
<p>The complaint, sent to the Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth and Pennsylvania Ethics Commission, noted that Feldman bought the parcel for $75,000 in his own personal capacity in 2007. Four years later, he sold the property to Braddock Redux for $1. Three years afterward, Braddock Redux sold the parcel to Fetterman for $1,100, meaning that the Senate candidate purchased the property for a mere 8% of market value. The complaint was first <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/11/02/john-fetterman-ethics-complaint-land-deals-braddock/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained</a> by The Daily Caller.</p>
<p>“The transaction history, the minimal value of the sale price of the property to Mr. Fetterman, and the magnitude of the discount of the property in question when compared to other properties on the same block give rise to the appearance of improper conduct,” the complaint said. “The president of a non-profit organization directing the organization to sell an asset to the president at a below-market rate would appear to be a clear violation of fiduciary obligations.”</p>
<p>Fetterman campaign spokesman Joe Calvello told The Daily Caller that the complaint was a “frivolous and ridiculous” attempt from a “far-right dark money group” supporting Republican nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz.</p>
<p>“John started Braddock Redux nearly two decades ago to help disadvantaged young people in Braddock and the surrounding area, and to create a community center for them,” Calvello remarked. “He is tremendously proud of what they accomplished while he was involved in terms of creating opportunities for Braddock youth, combating economic insecurity, helping reduce crime and gun violence, fostering a local arts resurgence, saving and restoring historical properties, and creating the Nyia Page Community Center to serve as a gathering and activity space for Braddock.”</p>
<p>The complaint from the Center for Accountability and Government Ethics is the second allegation that Fetterman breached the law with respect to his properties. Another <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-mocked-oz-for-owning-10-properties-fetterman-owns-8-but-didnt-disclose-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust said that Fetterman reported none of the eight properties he owns in Braddock on disclosure documents filed for his Senate race, even though candidates are required to submit a financial statement that “provides a ‘full and complete’ statement of their assets, debts, and income,” including properties “with a fair market value exceeding $1,000 as of the close of the reporting period.”</p>
<p>The race could determine which major party controls Congress next year. 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. The celebrity heart surgeon appeared to gain another <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/first-post-debate-poll-shows-oz-breaking-away-with-nearly-3-point-lead-in-pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boost</a> after Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May and has since exhibited cognitive issues, offered a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lackluster performance</a> in the contest’s only debate.</p>


Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Shapiro Campaigns With John Fetterman In Philadelphia

Fetterman Bought Land From His Own Nonprofit At Fraction Of Market Value In Eyebrow-Raising Deal With Deputy Mayor, Complaint Alleges

Fetterman Bought Land From His Own Nonprofit At 8% Of Market Value, Complaint Says

<p>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>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>


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

Media

U.S. Senate

USA Today

<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>


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

Pittsburgh's Top Newspaper Endorses Oz Over Fetterman

<p><a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Republican Senate candidate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mehmet-oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a> hired a mobile billboard to play the entirety of his debate against Democratic rival John Fetterman outside of a fundraiser attended by President <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a>.</p>
<p>Fetterman, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-top-democrat-in-u-s-senate-race-in-pennsylvania-hospitalized-after-suffering-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suffered a stroke</a> days before the primary election, provided choppy responses during the contest’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only debate</a> as Oz pressed the lieutenant governor on his leftist platform. The celebrity heart surgeon showed footage from the debate on what appeared to be a video billboard truck as Biden courted donors for Fetterman.</p>
<p>“Pennsylvanians deserve to see this debate as much as possible since John Fetterman ducked six others,” Oz campaign communications director Brittany Yanick said in a statement. “He won’t be able to escape it during his fundraiser with the inflator-in-chief.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="und">👀 <a href="https://t.co/q6CXcLIUnZ">pic.twitter.com/q6CXcLIUnZ</a></p>
<p>— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrOz/status/1586116614096769024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Many residents of Philadelphia may indeed have missed the debate. Nexstar Media Group, which <a href="https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-to-host-debate-us-senate-from-pa-on-oct-25/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broadcast</a> the exchange on stations throughout the commonwealth, is <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/verizon-nexstar-pennsylvania-senate-debate-john-fetterman-mehmet-oz-20221025.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disputing</a> with Verizon regarding a new distribution agreement. Verizon blacked out several Nexstar stations in Pennsylvania earlier this month, although the debate was also available to view for free on the websites belonging to Nexstar stations.</p>
<p>Biden <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/08/us/politics/fetterman-pennsylvania-senate-race.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emerged victorious</a> in the commonwealth two years ago because of college-educated voters, many of whom reside near the City of Brotherly Love.</p>
<p>During the fundraiser, Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/10/28/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-pennsylvania-democratic-party-reception/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lauded</a> Fetterman’s “enormous integrity” and galvanized support for the struggling candidate from fellow Democrats. “John has got a lot of experience serving the state as mayor and then as lieutenant governor. And he leaves nobody behind. John leaves nobody behind, whether it’s building an economy that works for everyone, keeping communities safe, protecting your rights and freedoms,” Biden said. “You know who he is, you know where he stands, and you also know John is Pennsylvania.”</p>
<p>Roughly three-quarters of voters in Philadelphia County are registered with the Democratic Party, according to <a href="https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Pages/VotingElectionStatistics.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the Pennsylvania Department of State.</p>
<p>Fetterman said during the debate that he does not plan to release his medical records or updated health information. The stroke kept him away from the campaign trail for several months, while both liberal and conservative moderators have <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">noticed</a> his lackluster communication abilities.</p>
<p>Rick Santorum, a Republican who spent two terms in the House and two terms in the Senate representing the interests of the Keystone State, remarked on Saturday in an <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">interview</a> with The Daily Wire that Fetterman does not have the cognitive ability to serve effectively in Congress.</p>
<p>“A senator does more than just votes. In fact, we spent very little time casting votes. We spent a lot of time working on issues, providing leadership on a variety of fronts,” he commented. “Most senators are involved in areas where they provide leadership, whether internationally working with other countries, working with organizations, or for particular causes. You have cachet as a senator, and most senators are capable of using that cachet to have an influence, to improve your country and to fight for the interests of your state. If you don’t have the ability to communicate, that becomes nearly impossible.”</p>


Screen Shot 2022-03-03 at 5.50.30 PM

Oz Parks Mobile Billboard Playing Debate Against Fetterman Outside Democrat Fundraiser

Oz Trolls Fetterman As Biden Headlines Philadelphia Fundraiser

Joe Biden

<p>Former Republican <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Senator and presidential candidate <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/rick-santorum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rick Santorum</a> said that Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman will be unable to represent the Keystone State because of his significant cognitive challenges.</p>
<p>Fetterman, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-top-democrat-in-u-s-senate-race-in-pennsylvania-hospitalized-after-suffering-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suffered a stroke</a> days before the primary election, faltered and provided noticeably choppy responses during the contest’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/confident-oz-and-struggling-fetterman-clash-in-pennsylvania-senate-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only debate</a> as Republican rival <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mehmet-oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a> pressed the Democrat on his progressive platform. Santorum, who spent two terms in the House of Representatives and two terms in the Senate, remarked in an interview with The Daily Wire that serving in the upper chamber demands significant persuasive and cognitive skill.</p>
<p>“A senator does more than just votes. In fact, we spent very little time casting votes. We spent a lot of time working on issues, providing leadership on a variety of fronts,” he commented. “Most senators are involved in areas where they provide leadership, whether internationally working with other countries, working with organizations, or for particular causes. You have cachet as a senator, and most senators are capable of using that cachet to have an influence, to improve your country and to fight for the interests of your state. If you don&#8217;t have the ability to communicate, that becomes nearly impossible.”</p>
<p>Fetterman had a number of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-fetterman-yells-at-oz-during-closing-statements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noticeable outbursts</a> and moments of frustration during his debate as moderators posed questions on his agenda and record. “You saw how he responded to stress at that debate: not well. You don&#8217;t put someone in there who&#8217;s incapacitated to do the job that you&#8217;re asking him to do,” Santorum added. “On top of that, here&#8217;s a man with a defibrillator. Here’s a man with a pacemaker. Here’s a man who has AFib and who is, by all measures, a ticking time bomb for another stroke sometime soon.”</p>
<p>Gisele Barreto Fetterman, the wife of John Fetterman, <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 “ableist.” Santorum rejected the notion that observing the nominee’s evident cognitive decline is bigoted.</p>
<p>“There&#8217;s a whole host of things that a senator does, but it requires competency. It requires being able to communicate, being able to effectively formulate ideas and present those ideas in ways that are persuasive,” Santorum continued. “Greg Abbott, for example, he&#8217;s paralyzed, but he can do the job. So it&#8217;s not a matter of ableism. It&#8217;s a matter of having the necessary skills to do the job which you&#8217;re being asked to do, and he doesn&#8217;t have that, any more than you would hire a plumber who&#8217;s paralyzed from the neck down.”</p>
<p>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> for voters nationwide as supply chain bottlenecks, labor shortages, and government spending worsen inflationary pressures. Santorum noted that Fetterman and other Pennsylvania Democrats must express support for fracking in order to win office in the energy-rich state.</p>
<p>“The Republicans have controlled the legislature there for a long time, and as a result have made sure that energy production went forward in Pennsylvania, even in the face of Democratic governors,” he noted. “Almost all of the trade unions in Pennsylvania now align with the Republicans more than the Democrats because it&#8217;s a jobs issue. And this is a huge producer of union jobs, all throughout the commonwealth.”</p>
<p>Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat completing his final term in office, enacted a second round of lockdowns that began weeks before the holiday season of 2020, dealing a fresh blow to the commonwealth’s businesses. Although economic fallout from the aggressive policies may influence voters, Santorum expects that suburban mothers impacted by school closures will bring their concerns to the polls.</p>
<p>Santorum, however, has also noticed that abortion policy is more salient in Pennsylvania than in other states. “One of the things that I&#8217;ve noticed in the polling in Pennsylvania is the abortion issue shows up higher,” he commented. “Because of the <i>Dobbs </i>decision, particularly among southeastern Pennsylvania suburban voters, I think it&#8217;s one of the reasons that Fetterman has held on. It&#8217;s one of the reasons that Democrats jumped on Oz&#8217;s answer about abortion during the debate, because they understand Pennsylvania, and particularly some of these key congressional district races out in the southeast.”</p>
<p>Although the race between Oz and Fetterman has generated significant media attention as the two major parties seek control of the Senate, the gubernatorial contest between Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Republican State Senator Doug Mastriano has made headlines as many outlets paint the latter candidate as a representative of “Christian nationalism.” Santorum said that despite his strong grassroots support, Mastriano’s relatively low degree of experience has enabled progressive reporters to caricature him.</p>
<p>“He&#8217;s a first term state senator who&#8217;s a long-term military guy. He&#8217;s a novice, he&#8217;s not a politician at all, and doesn&#8217;t understand it. Talking to reporters, he doesn&#8217;t trust them,” Santorum said. “And he&#8217;s in a situation where he&#8217;s sort of running a ghetto campaign without any money, and so they&#8217;re able to go out there and paint a picture without any pushback.”</p>
<p>Much reporting on Mastriano has been disingenuous, according to Santorum, because beltway journalists do not understand his values, while suburbanites in southeastern Pennsylvania are easily “spooked” by his persona. “He really is sort of a blue-collar guy who is very devout. He loves the country and he loves the Lord. So he&#8217;s an easy guy to caricature. How many people in the national media or the Democratic Party have faith as a huge part of their lives?” Santorum continued. “When they see someone like this, they’re the ‘other.’ It’s so funny how the Left always talks about how conservatives look at people as the ‘other’ while they look at Christians as ‘other.’ It&#8217;s very easy to caricature someone like him because of his strong faith.”</p>
<p>Mastriano has received <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-governor-candidate-breaks-pennsylvanias-campaign-spending-record-republican-spends-less-than-10-as-much" target="_blank" rel="noopener">little support</a> from establishment Republicans even as Shapiro broke the commonwealth’s gubernatorial campaign spending record. The dynamic may lead conservative voters to reject Oz, particularly in rural portions of the state, according to Santorum.</p>
<p>“There&#8217;s a lot of people who are not happy with the national party, the Republican Governors Association. Everybody else has sort of turned their back on him and have supported Oz, who as you saw from the debate is certainly not a conservative,” Santorum remarked. “That could have an impact on Oz’s turnout in the sense that there could be some out there who were upset about how Mastriano was treated. Whether it&#8217;s large numbers or not, I can&#8217;t say. But I think there will be some interesting under-votes: the rural areas under-voting for Oz, the urban areas under-voting for Fetterman.”</p>


Fox News Sponsors Republican Presidential Candidate Debate Ahead Of Iowa Caucuses

‘It Requires Competency’: Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum On Whether John Fetterman Can Do The Job With Serious Health Issues

Rick Santorum Discusses Pennsylvania Midterms, Concerns About Fetterman's Health

Rick Santorum

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