Washington Post Says Fetterman Must Debate Oz More Than Once

HARRISBURG, PA — As another potentially historic and certainly pivotal election draws nearer, national attention is increasingly laser focused on Pennsylvania and how a pair of statewide races could determine the future trajectory of the country.

In the gubernatorial race between Josh Shapiro and Doug Mastriano, the winner would play a crucial role in how votes are counted or not counted in the 2024 presidential election.

But the race for U.S. Senate's impact is more immediate, and more apparent. The winner of the race between Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz will likely determine the balance of power in U.S. Congress, and the kind of legislation that Americans can expect for at least the next two years, if not much longer.

Democratic candidate Fetterman holds a large lead in polls, but the stroke he suffered just before primary election day in May is not behind him. At least not in the public consciousness.

The Washington Post editorial board ran an opinion piece this week demanding that Fetterman accede to the Oz campaign's public calls for more debates. The outlet says that Fetterman's reluctance to agree to debates thus far — his campaign has agreed to one, at an uncertain date or time, under pressure — is a worrying sign that he is not as recovered as his campaign wants voters to believe.

The publication drew reaction from GOP Senators around the country.

"Pennsylvanians deserve to hear John Fetterman defend his radical platform," Pennsylvania's outgoing U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said in sharing the article on Twitter.

"Even the Washington Post Editorial Board is calling out (Fetterman) for being too much of a coward to debate (Oz)," Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said. "Fetterman wasn’t transparent about his health and now doesn’t want to answer questions about his radical views."

"If he’s scared to defend his soft-on-crime positions, he should say so," Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas added.

The board also seized upon Fetterman's speeches since he returned to the campaign trail, appearances which Oz and Republican supporters have mocked and used as a rallying cry for weeks now.

"Since returning to the campaign trail, Mr. Fetterman has been halting in his performances," the Washington Post wrote. "He stammers, appears confused and keeps his remarks short. He has held no news conferences...the lingering, unanswered questions about his health, underscored by his hesitation to debate, are unsettling."

The Post says that their call for Fetterman to debate more and to release more of his medical records is consistent with similar calls to both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

"(Fetterman) is asking voters for a six-year contract without giving them enough information to make sound judgments about whether he’s up for such a demanding job," they added.

Fetterman's campaign has said that he has a slower auditory processing speed since he suffered the stroke, the Associated Press reported, and they want the debate to be in a format that accomodates this.

"For over 30 years, there have been debates between Senate candidates in Pennsylvania," Oz argued. "Why should that change now?"

Fetterman's campaign has retorted said their opponents' true intentions are “about mocking John for having a stroke.”

Fetterman underwent surgery for a pacemaker with a defibrillator to help regulate his heart rhythm after the stroke in May.

Campaigning has intensified on both sides on social media in recent weeks, with Oz's team questioning Fetterman's health, pointing out his absence from the campaign trail, and attempting to pillory his progressive policies as extreme. Fetterman's side has not shied away from pointing out Oz's unfamiliarity with Pennsylvania, his recent residency in New Jersey, and Trump-related inconsistencies in his platform and experience.

Fetterman maintains a 6.5 point lead over Oz, according to an aggregate of recent polls from RealClearPolitcs.