Fetterman, a Democrat and the state’s lieutenant governor, is facing calls to release medical records after suffering a stroke in May. Fetterman says he is expected to make a full recovery and that the stroke will not impact his abilities to serve Pennsylvanians. However, others say that voters should be able to examine his records to determine if he is fit to serve. His health has become a key issue in the hotly contested race, which could help determine which party controls the Senate.
NBC host Chuck Todd pressed Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, about whether Fetterman should release his health records during a discussion about several battleground Senate elections on Meet the Press on Sunday morning.
Sanders declined to comment on Fetterman’s health, instead praising him as somebody who will be a “fighter” for Pennsylvanians—noting what he sees as a “contrast” between Fetterman and Oz, the Republican nominee.
“I don’t know enough about John’s medical situation. But I think the contrast is very clear,” Sanders said. “I do know John Fetterman—I’ve known him for years, and John is somebody who is going to be a real fighter for the working class of this country. He is prepared to take on the greed of corporate America, and I hope very much he joins us in the United States Senate.”
Sanders’ remarks come as Democrats are aiming to convince their constituents to vote in the midterms. The president’s party typically suffers loses during the midterms, meaning Democrats are facing an uphill battle to secure control of Congress. However, President Joe Biden’s surge in popularity, as well as the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade hasgalvanized liberal voters, offering Democrats an opportunity to mitigate their losses.
During his Meet the Press appearance, Sanders made his pitch for Fetterman, alongside other Democrats in battleground Senate races including Wisconsin’s Mandela Barnes and Ohio’s Tim Ryan.
“I’m not here to tell you that the Democrats are perfect. Believe me, they are not,” Sanders said. “But on virtually all of the issues, including climate change, the choice is pretty clear.”
Fetterman Holds Polling Advantage Despite Health Concerns
Fetterman’s health continues to be a major topic of discussion in Pennsylvania’s Senate race, which remains one of the most closely watched elections across the country. Last week, NBC News renewed attention on his health by reporting the Fetterman campaign required the use of “closed-captioning technology” during an interview. The technology allowed Fetterman to read questions as they were being asked out loud due to lingering auditory processing.
Oz, a celebrity heart surgeon, has faced criticism for how his campaign has handled the topic of Fetterman’s health, with critics and Fetterman’s campaign accusing him of mocking stroke victims. During a recent NBC News interview, Oz clarified that he believes people with disabilities can be fit to serve in office.
“I think people with disabilities can serve and they should serve. I would never hold that against anybody. The issue for me is the voters of Pennsylvania deserve transparency,” Oz said.
Fetterman continues to hold a polling lead, though that advantage has shrunk in recent days. A Suffolk University poll conducted from September 27 to 30 that surveyed 500 likely voters found Fetterman with a 6-point lead against Oz. Fetterman leads Oz by 5.6 points in FiveThirtyEight’s polling aggregate.
Newsweek reached out to Fetterman’s campaign for comment.
