Mr. Fetterman was by turns emotional and brash as he addressed an exuberant crowd, acknowledging the seriousness of the health scare he was facing, while also hitting out at his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the renowned physician, and pledging to fight for “every county. in every vote”. “Tomorrow is three months ago – three months ago, my life could have been over,” said Mr. Fetterman, who spoke for about 11 minutes and then greeted some attendees. At another point, his voice seemed to break as he added: “I just felt so grateful — and I’m so lucky. So thank you for being here.” The rally in Erie — in a swing county in what is perhaps the ultimate swing state in the nation — was a key moment in a race that could determine control of the Senate. It was Mr. Fetterman’s first official in-person campaign in the general election, as he runs against Dr. Oz, who sizzled in the Republican primary with the support of former President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Fetterman’s stroke occurred days before the May Democratic primary, and in early June, his doctor said he also had a serious heart condition. His wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, introduced him Friday as a “stroke survivor.” In recent weeks, Mr. Fetterman began making appearances, greeting volunteers, giving some local interviews and attending fundraisers and events, including with senators and other Senate candidates. Several people who spoke with him or heard him speak at private events described him as eager to get back on the campaign trail, though some also said it was obvious he was struggling for a word. He recognized that challenge and it was sometimes evident on Friday when he started a sentence or talked non-stop. “I’ll miss a word sometimes, or I might put two words together sometimes in a conversation, but that’s really the only issue, and it’s getting better every day,” Mr. Fetterman recently told KDKA-TV, in CBS station. in Pittsburgh. But on stage Friday, Mr. Fetterman also faced high energy, and his remarks at times took on the feel of a stand-up routine, fueled by a supportive crowd of 1,355, according to an organizer briefed by the campaign. .
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“There are many differences between me and Dr. Oz,” Mr. Fetterman said with a laugh, as he wondered how many mansions his opponent owned. Before the event, the line to get into the convention center stretched deep into the parking lot, attracting both older voters — including at least two who said they had voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 — and a young woman in a sparkly sash who said had chosen to spend her 19th birthday at his campaign rally. Several attendees of various ages mentioned abortion rights when discussing their votes in the Senate race, following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. “To see, at my age, that it’s being taken away from my great-granddaughters, my granddaughters, my daughters, it’s so upsetting to my heart that I’m here for Roe v. Wade,” Judy Pasold, 80, said. , who thought Mr. Fetterman sounded “very good.” “That’s why he’s going to be a Democrat all the way. Probably. Because most Republicans have gone the other way, so far in the opposite direction.”
How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members can vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or providing money or fundraising for any political candidate or election cause.
Mr. Fetterman’s remarks were light on politics, though he signaled his support for issues such as abortion rights, raising the minimum wage and eliminating the filibuster. Public opinion polls showed him with a strong lead over Dr. Oz and has far outpaced the Republican candidate in fundraising. Outside spending by both parties is expected to be significant, however, and many strategists expect a close race in a closely divided state. Despite his absence from the campaign trail, Mr. Fetterman and his team pushed to cast Dr. Oz as, essentially, a doormat, seeing the Republican as more comfortable in New Jersey — his longtime primary residence — than in Pennsylvania. where he says he now lives in a Philadelphia suburb. It was clear at the event that the focus on housing had gotten over some voters. “I can’t consciously vote for Oz — he’s not a resident of this state,” said David Mongera, 70, who said the last Republican he voted for was Mr. Trump in 2016. “It’s a political move.” Dr. Oz, for his part, has faced some challenges in consolidating his base after a bitterly divisive and competitive early-year primary, worrying Republicans nationally. But he sought to project a strong presence, posting pictures of restaurants — he visited the Capitol Diner in Harrisburg, Pa., on Friday, his campaign said — and criticizing Mr. Fetterman for his absence from the campaign trail. “Dr. Mehmet Oz is relentless in campaigning across the Commonwealth, listening and sharing the concerns of the people he meets and standing up for the people of Pennsylvania,” said Brittany Yanick, spokeswoman for Dr. Oz, in a statement. He has unveiled a website calling Mr Fetterman a “basement bum” and challenged his opponent to engage in debate. Dr. Oz said Friday that he had committed to five. “It’s time for Fetterman to appear,” Dr. Oz tweeted. “Pennsylvanians deserve to hear from their candidates.” Dr. Oz also sought to link Mr. Fetterman to President Biden, who has struggled with anemic approval ratings, and to Senator Bernie Sanders, whom Mr. Fetterman supported in the 2016 presidential election, trying to brand the candidate of the Democrats as too liberal. the State. Joe Calvello, a spokesman for Mr. Fetterman, would not commit to a specific number of discussions, but said that Mr. Fetterman planned to speak with Dr. Oz. Democrats in Pennsylvania are eager to see Mr. Fetterman return to more public appearances. Mr. Calvello said “the pace will pick up” as the candidate continues to raise money and plans events such as meet-and-greets this month. Mr. Fetterman opened his event by mocking Dr. Oz against him and later challenged him to hold an event of similar size. “Are we in Erie?” asked. “Or fit 1,400 people in my basement?” Mr. Fetterman, who has pledged to campaign in districts often considered inhospitable to Democrats, also spent significant time during his speech emphasizing the political importance of Erie, which is closely divided. “If you can’t win Erie County,” he said, “you can’t win Pennsylvania.”
