It was an election debate like no other.
One candidate, a recovering stroke survivor, the other a polished celebrity TV doctor backed by former US president Donald Trump.
A debate, but with conditions.: Dr Mehmet Oz (left) and Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman.
There was no live audience to add to the atmosphere. And closed captioning was displayed on a giant TV screen as an agreed condition of the contest, in what has become the marquee race of the US midterm elections.
Five months after a stroke nearly killed him, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman faced his biggest political test as he squared off against Republican rival Dr Mehmet Oz, better known in America as “Dr Oz”.
The stakes could not have been higher: with two weeks until election day, Pennsylvania is seen as the Democrats’ best chance of picking up a seat in the Senate.
Doing so could give the party the balance of power in the all-important chamber, which decides on everything from future Supreme Court nominations to President Joe Biden’s policy agenda.
Two average Joes: President Joe Biden watches as Pennsylvania’s Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman takes to the stage at a United Steelworkers of America event in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, to honour workers on Labour Day.Credit:AP
Fetterman, who is Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, has been campaigning since mid-August, three months after he almost died when he was on his way to an event ahead of his successful primary race.
But the stroke has left lingering problems with his speech and hearing, raising questions about his health and overall fitness for office. The debate on Tuesday (US time) was the first time Americans got to judge for themselves, as the candidates spent an hour trading blows on issues such as crime, abortion and the economy.
Fetterman looked awkward standing on stage in a black suit and blue tie instead of the hoodies and shorts that have become his trademark. He regularly struggled with his sentences, took a while to process questions and seemed to stumble on policy – perhaps more noticeably due to Oz’s TV experience and polished performance.
Nonetheless, the 53-year-old addressed his health problems in his opening statement, telling viewers, “I had a stroke; he’s never let me forget that. I might miss some words during this debate; mush two words together. It knocked me down but I’m gonna keep coming back up. And this campaign is all about me fighting for everyone in Pennsylvania that ever got knocked down.”
Oz, on the other hand, did not mention his opponent’s health, portraying him instead as a left-wing “radical”, accusing him of being soft on crime and hitting out at his support for fracking.
Social media users, however, were not quite as forgiving, many declaring that the Democrat was not fit for office.
“It’s hard for me to even provide commentary on this debate since John Fetterman is unable to put together a coherent sentence,” one viewer posted on Twitter.
“That he is the Democrat nominee is an indictment of the Democrat party and the people around him who are supposed to love him,” said another.
Whether Tuesday night’s performance shifts crucial votes is yet to be seen, but Pennsylvania is a seat the Democrats must win if they are to have any chance of retaining their majority in Congress. Oz began his campaign trailing Fetterman by double digits, but in the past few weeks, the gap has narrowed.
Hours before the debate, veteran politics expert Larry Sabato told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, “Very rarely does a debate matter like this one – because Fetterman’s health has become such a central issue of the campaign.”
Sabato, who heads the Centre for Politics at the University of Virginia, said, “I’ve known people who have had strokes and there are frequently auditory problems that linger – but I’m not the average voter.”
“Maybe the average voter sees him and thinks, ‘My God, he needs [assistance] and that’s the only way he can function.’ It’s not fair, but then nothing about politics is fair.”
The midterm elections will take place on November 8, determining who controls Congress – and, in turn, the direction of the country for the next two years. While Biden is not up for re-election until 2024, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, along with a third of the 100-member Senate, as well as 36 state governor roles – the equivalent of Australia’s state premiers.
The battle for Pennsylvania comes as the economy, cost of living pressures and soaring inflation rates shift the momentum towards Republicans in the final stretch of the campaign.
Crime has also been a pressing concern, particularly in New York, a deeply Democratic state that has grown unexpectedly competitive for Republicans in recent days.
As Fetterman and Oz traded barbs in Pennsylvania, so too did New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Republican candidate Lee Zeldin in a tense debate.
And further south, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took part in his debate for re-election on Monday night (US time), and was momentarily caught off guard when asked if he would serve a full-year term, or if he would pursue his widely speculated ambition to run for the White House against Biden.
Such a move would potentially pit DeSantis against the man who propelled him into the national spotlight, Trump, who is also likely to seek the presidential nomination from his party.
“Yes or no, Ron? Will you serve a full four-year term if you’re re-elected as governor of Florida?” Democrat candidate Charlie Crist asked in the standout moment of their debate.
The brash Republican, who is rarely lost for words, fell silent, before eventually responding to his 66-year-old opponent.
“The only worn-out old donkey I’m looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist,” he said.
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