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Pennsylvania’s Democrat nominee for Senate left many viewers scratching their heads Tuesday night with some of his debate responses.
John Fetterman, who suffered a stroke earlier this year, started off the debate by acknowledging that he might “miss some words” throughout the course of the night. However, the Democrat’s answers were oftentimes unintelligible, leading to questions about his fitness for office.
For instance, when asked whether he would release his medical records relating to the stroke, Fetterman responded, “My doctor, Elle, believes that I’m fit to be serving and that’s what I believe is where I’m standing.”
In another instance, when asked how he would defend raising the minimum wage when speaking to small businesses that oppose the measure, he struggled to form a coherent reply.
The scene drew disbelief from viewers on Twitter, with Outkick founder Clay Travis tweeting: “John Fetterman can’t speak. This is disqualifying.”
Incomprehensible statements aside, however, Fetterman was also called out by the moderators and viewers at home for his flip-flopping on fracking.
Moderator Lisa Sylvester, questioning the candidate’s changing stance, noted: “In a 2018 interview, you said, ‘I don’t support fracking at all. I never have.’ But earlier this month, you told an interviewer, ‘I support fracking. I support the energy independence that we should have here in the United States.’”
Rather than explain that discrepancy, Fetterman responded with an outright denial, stating, “I’ve always supported fracking, and I always believe that independence with our energy is critical.”
Unimpressed by the candidate’s denial, another Twitter user shared a clip from a 2016 debate in which Fetterman admitted to calling for “a moratorium” on fracking.
All that said, it is not particularly shocking that a WPXI poll following the debate showed an incredible 83 percent of viewers indicated that Oz had crushed his opponent.
Oz is endorsed by President Donald J. Trump, and according to recent polling, holds a commanding lead over his Democrat rival.
Trump, when he endorsed Oz in May, said that the former TV host was the Republican Party’s best hope for taking Pennsylvania’s hotly contested Senate seat.
“This is all about winning elections in order to stop the Radical Left maniacs from destroying our Country,” Trump noted. “The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tremendous opportunity to Save America by electing the brilliant and well-known Dr. Mehmet Oz for the United States Senate.”
Adding that he had known Oz “for many years,” the 45th president urged his supporters to get behind the doctor, stating, “Dr. Oz is smart, tough, and will never let you down, therefore, he has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
