In a recent development, Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator John Fetterman has staunchly defended President Joe Biden following a debate with former President Donald Trump that was widely criticized.
The Independent reports that Fetterman took to social media to share a screenshot of a Politico article, which suggested that Democrats, in a state of panic, were seeking alternatives to Biden after a debate performance that was largely seen as disastrous.
Fetterman, however, refused to join the chorus of criticism against Biden. "I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate," he wrote. "No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record." His comments come in the wake of a brutal reaction to the Pennsylvania Senate debate in late October 2022 between Fetterman and Republican nominee Mehmet Oz. Several individuals expressed their bewilderment to Axios as to why Fetterman had agreed to participate in the debate at all.
A Democratic lawmaker and supporter of Fetterman questioned his decision, asking, "Why the hell did Fetterman agree to this?" The lawmaker further expressed concern about Fetterman's health, stating, "This will obviously raise more questions than answers about Johns health."
During the debate, Fetterman openly discussed his recent health issues. "I had a stroke. Hes never let me forget that," he said of Oz, a well-known TV doctor. "And I might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together, but it knocked me down and Im going to keep coming back up."
NewsNation host Leland Vittert, following the debate, highlighted the concerns surrounding Fetterman's health and his ability to comprehend and articulate issues coherently. "The biggest issue was John Fettermans health and his ability to comprehend speech, and to then speak coherently on the issues of the day," Vittert said.
A Pennsylvania Democratic official, according to Axios, expressed deep concern about Fetterman, stating, "Everyone is nervous. Ive traveled everywhere. Fetterman is a deep concern. And this debate will only increase it."
Despite the concerns and criticism, Fetterman emerged victorious in his Senate race in November 2022. He took to social media to express his triumph, writing, "Morning-after thermonuclear beat downs from my race from the debate and polling geniuses like 538 predicted ld lose by 2. And what happened? The only seat to flip and won by a historic margin (+5). Chill the f*** out."
Meanwhile, President Biden's performance in the debate was also under scrutiny. His strained and hoarse voice, coupled with his inability to provide clear answers, sparked panic among Democrats. This performance served as a reminder that Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history, and his memory and articulation skills have been under intense scrutiny.
As of the debate day, June 27, Trump was leading in FiveThirtyEights average of national polls by 0.2 percentage points, 41.1 percent to Bidens 40.9. Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged on CNN that Biden had a "slow start."
Strategists close to potential Democratic presidential candidates told Politico that they received numerous texts during the debate, with some requesting their candidate to step up as an alternative. However, unless Biden chooses to step aside, there is little that can be done. As reported by CNN, Biden is committed to staying in the race and participating in the second debate scheduled for September.
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