Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman appeared for a rally in Pennsylvania on Friday, returning to the campaign trail nearly three months after being hospitalized due to a stroke.
Fetterman addressed supporters at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania, sending a signal of hope to Democrats who are seeking to gain the Senate seat in order to maintain their majorities in Congress come November. The event on Friday also served as the first time supporters were able to assess his recovery after Republicans have spent weeks questioning whether he is fit for office due to his health.
DR. OZ DEMANDS FIVE DEBATES AS FETTERMAN SLOWLY RETURNS TO CAMPAIGN TRAIL
“Thank you so much for being here tonight, thank you so much, because really, tonight is about being grateful, just grateful,” Fetterman said. “Three months ago, my life could have ended — it’s the truth. But I’m so grateful to be here tonight.”
His challenger, Dr. Mehmet Oz, has repeatedly criticized Fetterman for being largely absent from the campaign trail, challenging the Democrat to agree to five moderated debates before the general election in November. Oz’s challenge came just hours before Fetterman was set to appear at his rally as an attempt to highlight the Democrat’s health amid concerns over whether he is capable of serving a full term in the Senate.
Fetterman’s campaign indicated he would be open to a debate but did not specify how many or whether it would agree to the terms laid out by Oz, according to NBC News. Going further, a spokesperson for the campaign dismissed Oz’s challenge as “an obvious and pathetic attempt to change the subject during yet another bad week.”
Fetterman was hospitalized in mid-May after suffering a stroke just days before winning the nomination for Senate in Pennsylvania, a key swing state in the midterm elections in November, later conceding he “almost died.” He was then diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the heart muscle to become weakened and enlarged.
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However, he maintains that the incident would not hinder him from completing his Senate duties.
Fetterman had previously been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm, in 2017 after experiencing swelling in his feet. He was instructed to return for a follow-up appointment in the next few months but did not return until five years after his initial diagnosis — raising questions about whether the Democrat is in good enough health to run in one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.
Pennsylvania’s Senate race has been called a toss-up by nonpartisan election analysts, and the seat is seen as possibly the best pickup opportunity for Democrats as Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) retires and Democrats seek to maintain or grow their Senate majority.
