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WASHINGTON – Pennsylvania Senate candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz met for their archetypal and astir apt lone statement Tuesday, a showdown shadowed by Fetterman's betterment from a stroke, in a closely-watched contention that Democrats anticipation to flip arsenic they look to support power of the Senate
Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz successful September finally agreed to a azygous statement aft months of backmost and distant connected rules and regulations. Oz, a personage surgeon-turned-politician, claimed Fetterman was ducking debates successful portion due to the fact that helium remained sick from a stroke helium suffered successful May.
In lieu of a accepted debate, Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate candidates person truthful acold duked it retired connected societal media, trolling each different with viral memes attacking each others' policies, health and commitment to the state.
After Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., announced his retirement, Democrats saw a accidental to flip the plaything state’s Senate spot blue, making the contention betwixt Fetterman and Oz 1 of the astir competitory and consequential races successful the country. With a 50-50 Senate split, power of the enclosure could hinge connected a azygous race.
Fetterman leads Oz by astir 4 percent points, an average of caller polls by analysis tract FiveThirtyEight shows.
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Fetterman wants to beforehand vocational education; doesn't truly accidental how
Fetterman closed by saying helium wants to articulation the Senate to fight for mean people and his full governmental vocation has been astir "fighting for forgotten communities" each crossed Pennsylvania.
He did not notation the stroke.
– David Jackson
Fetterman wants to beforehand vocational education; doesn't truly accidental how
Fetterman said helium wants to beforehand much vocational acquisition due to the fact that accepted assemblage "isn't for everybody."
But helium provided few specifics connected however helium tin assistance much radical find vocational training.
– David Jackson
Fetterman connected higher education
Democrat John Fetterman said determination needs to beryllium important concern successful higher acquisition and affordable nationalist assemblage acquisition successful each state.
“It costs excessively overmuch and I judge providing the resources to…reduce the tuition let families to beryllium capable to spend it,” helium said.
Fetterman did not elaborate connected circumstantial details arsenic to however costs would beryllium lowered.
-- Candy Woodall
Oz endorses vocational training
The GOP nominee said commercialized unions play an important relation successful raising the value of vocational education and that helium benefited from specified successful Westmoreland.
Oz said it is the “smartest way to invest our tax dollars” and would “turn up doubly arsenic galore children who have a job as soon as they graduate.”
— Phillip M. Bailey
Oz says helium tin trim outgo of higher education; doesn't truly accidental how
Oz said helium tin trim the outgo of higher education, but did not supply specifics beyond "electronic classes" for distant learning and "pushing for much value" from colleges and universities.
– David Jackson
Oz demands Fetterman apologize to Black jogger
One of the biggest controversies of this contention for months has been the GOP attacking Fetterman for brandishing a shotgun to detain an unarmed Black antheral erstwhile helium was mayor.
Fetterman, according to the constabulary report, told officers he heard gunshots and saw the antheral running. He said during the statement that he was the chief law enforcement officer of Braddock, and that “an overwhelming majority” of radical successful the Black assemblage “understood what happened.”
“Why not apologize,” Oz repeated.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Fetterman connected Social Security
Democrat John Fetterman said helium would support Social Security if he’s elected to the Senate.
He said helium would combat against Republicans who would chopped Medicare and Social Security.
Fetterman said helium would ballot to enactment and grow Social Security.
-- Candy Woodall
Oz: U.S. not 'projecting strength' connected China
Oz said the U.S. needs to get tougher connected Chinese commercialized policies and militarism, saying the U.S. and Biden medication are not "projecting strength" against its adversary.
– David Jackson
Oz connected a Trump 2024 run
When asked if helium would enactment a Trump 2024 statesmanlike run, Dr. Mehmet Oz said helium would enactment whoever the Republican nominee is astatine the time.
Oz was pressed astir wherefore helium wouldn’t afloat perpetrate enactment to a Trump run.
“Oh, I do. I volition enactment Donald Trump if helium decided to tally for president,” Oz said.
But helium emphasized that “this is bigger than 1 candidate.”
-- Candy Woodall
Fetterman: China is not our friend
Asked what is the top overseas menace to the U.S., Fetterman focused exclusively connected the emergence of China’s planetary influence.
“I believe China is not our friend,” helium said.
Fetterman rapidly turned his comments to Oz, saying that the TV doc “has chosen to manufacture all of his merchandise on his name” successful the overseas country.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Fetterman defends de-criminalization of drugs
Fetterman defended his proposals to de-criminalize astir drugs by saying the authorities has wasted excessively overmuch wealth and wounded excessively galore radical with its warfare connected drugs.
– David Jackson
Fetterman connected unafraid border
Democrat John Fetterman said “a unafraid borderline tin beryllium compatible with compassion.”
He said a broad and bipartisan solution for migration is needed.
“I don’t ever callback successful the Statue of Liberty that they say, ‘Take our bushed huddled masses, enactment them connected a autobus and usage inexpensive governmental stunts,” Fetterman said.
-- Candy Woodall
Oz highlights migration story, pivots to drugs
Oz said helium understands the challenges immigrants coming to the U.S. look fixed that his parents were immigrants. But helium said voters person small tolerance for amerciable immigration, which helium tied to amerciable drugs.
“I understand what legal immigration offers us but the completely porous open nature of our border, which John Fetterman supports, has created a humanitarian crisis with cartels profiting,” Oz said.
-- Phillip Bailey
Oz connected weapon power bill
Dr. Mehmet Oz said helium would person tried to amended the weapon power measure Republican Sen. Pat Toomey voted for.
“There are things that I deliberation astir of america appreciate. I wasn’t determination astatine the time, truthful I can’t talk to what was possible,” Oz said.
-- Candy Woodall
Oz hits Fetterman connected transgression successful the metropolis wherever helium was mayor
Oz again deed Fetterman connected the transgression issue, citing rising transgression rates successful the metropolis of Braddock erstwhile helium was mayor.
"The metropolis was unsafe nether your leadership," Oz told the ex-mayor, though Fetterman supporters said helium is distorting the statistics.
-- David Jackson
Fetterman pressed connected crime
The moderators called attraction to however Republicans person slammed Fetterman arsenic idiosyncratic who is "dangerously" brushed connected crime.
In response, helium pointed to his clip arsenic politician of Braddock and warring against weapon unit astatine the section level. He besides called retired Oz's deficiency of acquisition connected the subject.
“All he's done is just put a plan up on his website…He has nary experience. He has never made any attempt to try to address crime,” Fetterman said.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Fetterman clarifies presumption connected fracking
Democrat John Fetterman was asked whether his presumption has changed connected fracking, with the interviewer comparing past comments to caller comments.
“I bash enactment fracking,” helium said.
He made comments successful years past that helium did not enactment it.
Fetterman repeated aggregate times during the statement that helium supports fracking.
-- Candy Woodall
Oz: I enactment fracking, haven't changed position
Oz claimed helium has consistently supported the fracking of earthy gas, contempt erstwhile statements that expressed skepticism of the practice. Opponents person accused him of flip-flopping connected the contented that is important to Pennsylvania.
– David Jackson
Fetterman: Move to Vermont?
After Oz accused Fetterman of supporting “socialized medicine” and his allyship with Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, the lieutenant politician pushed back.
Fetterman said Oz embraced Sanders erstwhile the legislator appeared connected his tv programme years ago.
“You cognize what? Why don't you unreal that you unrecorded successful Vermont alternatively of Pennsylvania and tally against Bernie Sanders due to the fact that each you tin bash is speech astir Bernie Sanders,” helium said.
Fetterman added helium believes wellness attraction is simply a cardinal and basal rights and that helium volition combat to grow it if elected.
-- Phillip Bailey
Oz responds to questions astir ‘unproven and perchance unsafe treatments’
Dr. Mehmet Oz was asked astir criticisms that represent him arsenic peddling “unproven and perchance unsafe treatments.”
Oz said helium has met radical each crossed Pennsylvania who person thanked him for giving them life-saving advice.
He turned the speech to Fetterman by saying the socialized medicine helium supports is dangerous.
-- Candy Woodall
Fetterman: My doc says 'I'm acceptable to serve'
Fetterman cited his doctor's statement that helium is "fit to serve' successful the Senate contempt his changeable – but helium did not accidental whether her would merchandise his afloat aesculapian records to underscore the point, contempt a repeated petition from the moderator.
– David Jackson
Traveling for termination access
Fetterman was asked by moderators if helium would support using federal funds to help women who live in states where abortion is banned go to states where it is inactive permitted.
The lieutenant politician was blunt.
“I would, because I believe abortion rights is a universal right for all women in America,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman added that helium feels termination is wellness attraction and should beryllium looked astatine arsenic a backstage substance betwixt a pistillate and her doctor.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Fetterman supports Roe v. Wade
When asked if helium would enactment immoderate limits connected abortion, Democrat John Fetterman said helium would enactment the protections successful Roe v. Wade.
“That was the instrumentality of the onshore for 50 years,” Fetterman said.
-- Candy Woodall
Oz: Abortion should beryllium a authorities issue
Oz dodged the termination issue, saying the states should determine termination policy. Oz said helium wouldn't enactment national authorities connected abortion, and accused Fetterman of distorting his views connected the issue. The doc said helium doesn't reason each abortions, but didn't specify erstwhile helium would let them.
– David Jackson
Abortion sheds airy connected campaigner differences
Fetterman said helium supports codifying reproductive rights into national law, and that helium wants to look into the look of Pennsylvania women and inquire them if they privation Oz to person a accidental implicit their bodies.
“(Oz) celebrated erstwhile Roe v. Wade went down,” Fetterman said.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Oz says national authorities shouldn’t determine abortion
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and TV speech amusement host, had to reply a question connected abortion his hostile has accused him of avoiding.
Oz is anti-abortion but supports exceptions for rape, incest and the mother’s health. When asked if helium would enactment a nationalist ban, helium did not springiness a yes oregon nary answer.
“I americium not going to enactment national rules that artifact the quality of states to bash what they privation to do. The termination determination should beryllium near up to the states,” Oz said.
-- Candy Woodall
Previously: Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, eliminating law close to abortion
Oz: 'Market forces' tin thrust up minimum wages
Oz said helium wants the $7.25-an-hour minimum wage to spell up "as acold arsenic it tin do" - but not needfully done authorities fiat. Reducing regulations, helium said, volition alteration businesses to wage much to their employees.
"Market forces should thrust it up immoderate way," Oz said.
– David Jackson
$15 minimum wage is excessively low, Oz says
Oz said the escaped marketplace has helped summation wages, and that his Democratic rival is “shooting excessively low.”
Oz said Pennsylvania has capable “energy beneath our feet” to assistance rise wages, and that $15 an hr isn’t capable but that a authorities mandate isn’t the mode to bash it.
— Phillip M. Bailey
Fetterman supports $15 minimum wage
Democrat John Fetterman said helium would enactment raising national minimum wage to $15 an hour.
The existent $7.25 an hr complaint is “a disgrace,” helium said.
“I judge each enactment has dignity, and each paycheck indispensable person dignity successful it arsenic well,” Fetterman said.
-- Candy Woodall
Fetterman: Push backmost against firm 'price gouging'
Fetterman attacked "price gouging" by corporations, blaming Republicans similar Oz; helium peculiarly went aft lipid companies, blaming them for higher state prices – a large run contented against Democrats. His solution: Tighter regulations and much taxes connected corporations.
– David Jackson
Gas prices hitting Pennsylvanians hard, Oz says
When the treatment turned to the outgo to capable up astatine the pump, Oz said Fetterman has gone overboard by criticizing vigor companies amid rising state prices. The TV doc said the’s “witnessed people say I'm not going on vacation” due to the fact that they cannot spend the trip."
— Phillip M. Bailey
Oz accuses Fetterman of raising taxes
Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, successful an opening salvo, accused his Democratic hostile John Fetterman of raising taxes arsenic politician and lieutenant governor.
“He tried to rise taxes arsenic a lieutenant politician 46%,” Oz said. “Your supported Joe Biden’s caller taxation complaint increase, and he’s done that without paying his ain taxes 67 times.”
-- Candy Woodall
Fetterman: Oz is lying astir my taxes
Fetterman said Oz lied erstwhile helium said helium had not paid taxes; helium said determination was once a quality implicit a non-profit company.
– David Jackson
Oz leads connected crime
Oz started the statement by saying helium volition bring civility backmost to D.C., adding that Republicans and Democrats tin enactment together.
The Republican nominee besides said Fetterman “has been trying to get as many murderers convicted and sentenced to life in prison out of jail as possible.”
— Phillip M. Bailey
First question kicks disconnected Oz-Fetterman debate
The archetypal question successful 1 of the astir anticipated U.S. Senate debates successful the 2022 midterms went to John Fetterman, who had to reply what qualifies him to beryllium a U.S. senator.
He chose to usage it arsenic a infinitesimal to spell connected discourtesy against his hostile and besides code “the elephant successful the room.”
"I had a stroke. He's ne'er fto maine hide that,” Fetterman said, informing the assemblage helium whitethorn messiness up immoderate words.
Fetterman, the Pennsylvania lieutenant politician and Democratic nominee moving to flip the spot held by retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, said helium mightiness get knocked down due to the fact that of his lingering code issues from his May changeable but he’ll support getting backmost up.
-- Candy Woodall
Fetterman squad says Oz run rejects media entree to spot closed captioning
The Fetterman run squad requested media entree connected tract astatine the statement for excavation reporters to spot closed captioning successful existent clip that volition beryllium utilized by John Fetterman, who uses the instrumentality portion recovering from stroke-related audio processing issues, the Democrat's run said Tuesday.
Oz denied the request, according to Fetterman run spokesperson Joe Cavello.
An Oz run spokesperson did not instantly respond to questions seeking comment.
Cavello said the Fetterman squad wanted reporters to spot the aforesaid captions Oz and Fetterman would see.
-- Candy Woodall
Fetterman to get a boost from Biden, Harris and Obama
Democrat John Fetterman volition get a boost from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris successful the days aft his first, and apt only, Senate debate.
Biden and Harris volition fundraise with Fetterman Friday during a Democratic Party meal successful Pennsylvania.
Former President Barack Obama and Biden volition instrumentality a week aboriginal to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to run for Fetterman and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro connected Saturday, Nov. 5.
-- Candy Woodall
Does Oz’s TV acquisition springiness him an edge?
For astir 13 years, Oz has been a fashionable tv doc and host, known for his empathetic style.
That could service him good Tuesday arsenic helium looks to combat disconnected Democratic attacks that his wealthiness puts him retired of interaction with mean voters.
Democrats and their allies person simultaneously formed Fetterman, the erstwhile politician of Braddock, arsenic an “everyman” who speaks similar regular people, mounting up a large opposition during the debate.
– Phillip M. Bailey
Key Senate races: Midterm predetermination races volition find who controls the Senate: Here are 8 to watch
Debate strategy: Fetterman to accent 'working people'; Oz to stress crime
Like erstwhile debaters successful different states, Fetterman and Oz are signaling their strategies via societal media.
Fetterman indicated helium volition reason that his economical policies are designed to payment moving people, portion Oz favors lone the wealthy.
"My program would chopped taxes for moving radical portion making the affluent yet wage their just stock similar the remainder of us," Fetterman said successful a tweet. "Oz's program would chopped taxes for mega-millionaire$ similar himself portion raising taxation rates connected moving families."
Fetterman besides figures to code his wellness concern aft a changeable earlier this year. "If you've ever flooded a large wellness situation (or are dealing with 1 close now), cognize that you are not alone," the Pennsylvania lieutenant politician said successful different tweet.
Oz did not code Fetterman's wellness successful his pre-debate tweets. Instead, helium indicated helium would proceed attacking Fetterman implicit situation betterment and crime, including his instrumentality enforcement grounds portion politician of Braddock.
"Unlike John Fetterman, I volition ever enactment Pennsylvanians implicit criminals," Oz said successful a tweet.
– David Jackson
Troll campaign: John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz speech viral memes implicit accepted debate
Fetterman’s wellness could assistance oregon hurt
Fetterman suffered a stroke two days earlier the May primary, and it’s been a root of contention ever since.
The Oz run pounced connected the Democrat’s health in August erstwhile a spokesperson said if Fetterman had “eaten a rootlike successful his life, past possibly helium wouldn't person had a large stroke.”
This month, successful a connection to USA TODAY, the Oz run called retired however Fetterman inactive hasn’t released his afloat aesculapian records.
If Fetterman, who inactive struggles with processing words, falters, it could beryllium thing the GOP oregon blimpish activists prehend upon and make a viral moment.
But Fetterman’s show Tuesday besides could beryllium a rallying constituent among voters arsenic a motion of perseverance, especially for changeable survivors and their families, who’ve defended his usage of closed caption successful interviews.
– Phillip M. Bailey
Oz, Fetterman successful dormant vigor up of archetypal debate
Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz are squaring disconnected successful their archetypal and lone statement Tuesday arsenic the Pennsylvania Senate contention is opening to tighten.
A caller CBS News/YouGov poll, released Tuesday, shows Fetterman, the state’s lieutenant governor, with a 2-point pb implicit Oz, a personage doctor, among apt voters.
The survey shows Fetterman carrying 51% versus Oz holding 49% with a 4.4% borderline of error.
Fetterman had been up by arsenic overmuch arsenic 11% successful a erstwhile survey.
– Phillip M. Bailey
Someone to place with: As Fetterman prepares to statement Dr. Oz successful Pennsylvania Senate race, changeable survivors spot themselves successful him
How Oz tightened Pennsylvania Senate contention with Fetterman
The contention for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat this twelvemonth was once considered Fetterman's to lose, arsenic Oz found himself connected the ropes. Now Oz appears to person launched a comeback, narrowing the canvass gap.
From being trolled by Fetterman connected societal media over referring to a supermarket veggie tray arsenic "crudités," Oz has present attracted millions of dollars from nationalist governmental enactment committees. He has a barrage of ads moving against his opponent, has the media joining him successful asking for the Democrat’s wellness records and has efficaciously chopped Fetterman’s pb to a fewer points – wrong the borderline of error.
Is the momentum truly shifting successful Oz's favour oregon is the race-tightening just emblematic midterm authorities successful a battleground authorities aft Labor Day?
"That's the million-dollar question," said Jessica Taylor, Cook Political Report Senate editor.
– Candy Woodall
Who is Mehmet Oz?
Celebrity surgeon and TV big Mehmet Oz, better known arsenic Dr. Oz, won Pennsylvania’s Republican U.S. Senate information successful June.
Though Oz, 62, is champion known for his tv programme "The Dr. Oz Show," which ended erstwhile his Senate bid began, his run gained attention with the April endorsement of erstwhile President Donald Trump.
The lad of immigrants from Turkey to the U.S., Oz was born successful Ohio, raised successful Delaware and has called New Jersey his location for decades – a constituent his opponent’s run has belabored successful its effort to overgarment the Republican Senate nominee arsenic a fake Pennsylvanian.
He has an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and an M.B.A. from the Wharton Business School, his biography states.
– Ella Lee, Orlando Mayorquin
Who is Dr. Mehmet Oz?: What to cognize astir ex-TV amusement big moving for Pennsylvania Senate
Who is John Fetterman?
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s political emergence began successful Braddock, Pennsylvania, where arsenic mayor he was credited with breathing beingness backmost into the hollowed-out alloy town.
He ran for Senate the archetypal clip successful 2016 but failed to get past the Democratic primary. He remained politician until helium became lieutenant politician successful 2019. In authorities office, Fetterman has championed legalizing recreational marijuana and served arsenic the seat of the state’s pardon board.
Throughout his 2022 Senate campaign, the 6-foot-8, tattooed and suit-averse candidate has advocated for raising the national minimum wage to $15 oregon higher, transitioning to renewable vigor “as rapidly arsenic possible” to combat clime alteration and legalizing marijuana nationally.
Fetterman suffered a changeable successful May that near him hospitalized connected superior predetermination nighttime and disconnected the run way for months, which his opponent’s run has painted arsenic a weakness.
– Ella Lee, Orlando Mayorquin
Who is John Fetterman?: What to cognize astir the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania Senate
What bash the polls show?
Fetterman's erstwhile ample pb implicit Oz has steadily shrunk since September, an average of caller polls by analysis tract FiveThirtyEight shows.
Though the Pennsylvania Democrat erstwhile had much than 10 percent points connected his Republican opponent, Fetterman present polls little than 4 points up of Oz.
– Ella Lee
USA TODAY exclusive: Democrat Fetterman hangs onto 6-point pb implicit GOP's Dr. Oz successful Pennsylvania Senate race
Of veggie trays and votes
The Tuesday statement is giving Democrat John Fetterman an accidental to replay 1 of his campaign’s top hits – capitalizing connected his Republican opponent’s nutrient gaffe.
Oz went viral for the incorrect reasons, by governmental standards, successful the summertime erstwhile a video showed him successful a market store (whose sanction helium mispronounced) and buying crudites, the fancy French statement of a veggie tray.
“He is not a idiosyncratic who understands inflation,” Fetterman said successful an interrogation with USA TODAY. “This is simply a feline that has demonstrated that helium doesn’t adjacent cognize however to store for groceries.”
-- Candy Woodall
Wegners?: Oz confuses Wegmans, Redner's successful unusual video connected buying for crudités
Oz launches transgression docket earlier debate
Oz launched a 22-point program to combat transgression a time earlier his archetypal and lone statement with Democrat Fetterman.
His program focuses connected reducing cause crimes, expanding national resources for safer streets, sentencing betterment and more, and it fits into a nationalist strategy among Republicans who are making transgression a cardinal issue.
An influx of currency from nationalist Republicans and millions of dollars spent connected TV ads that were designed to marque Fetterman look brushed connected transgression helped Oz determination the governmental needle successful his favor, tightening polls from astir treble digits to wrong margins of error.
"Dr. Oz has enactment distant a program to combat transgression done policies that summation resources for section instrumentality enforcement, amended transgression prevention programs, and enactment alleviation for cause users. These are existent solutions to code mounting issues of transgression from the smallest retail theft to devastating homicide,” Oz spokesperson Brittany Yanick said successful a statement.
-- Candy Woodall
When is the debate?
The statement betwixt Fetterman and Oz is slated to statesman astatine 8 p.m. ET and past an hour.
It volition be hosted by Nexstar Media astatine a Harrisburg, Pennsylviana, affiliate quality studio.
– Ella Lee
Pennsylvania Senate race: How Dr. Oz tightened Pa. Senate contention with Fetterman. Is it a informing motion for Democrats?
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