In a race that could determine who controls the US Senate, the pair debated for an hour in Pennsylvania.
In the lone debate of a Pennsylvania race that will help decide whether Democrats retain control of the Senate, Democratic John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz sparred on issues ranging from inflation to crime.
The pair sparred for an hour in the state capital of Harrisburg in a high-stakes battle for both parties, with Republicans needing to flip just one seat to wrest control of the upper chamber of Congress from Democrats.
Fetterman’s team had been doing some expectation-setting to counter questions as to whether the 53-year-old is up to the job amid his comeback from a stroke in May.
He is making an encouraging physical recovery but struggles to grasp some spoken words and occasionally to access words when speaking, according to his doctors.
Fetterman apologised in advance for any missed words, but added that his campaign was about “fighting for everyone in Pennsylvania who never got knocked down.”
The Democrat, who wore a sober business suit over his tattooed forearms instead of his trademark hoodie, requested closed captioning to help him understand the questions.
“If he’s on TV, he’s lying,” Fetterman said of Oz, a celebrity heart surgeon who is 62 years old. He accused his opponent of misleading voters about his voting record and said the doctor “never let me forget” about the stroke.
Monitors showed a live transcript of the moderators’ questions and Oz’s responses.
“If he’s on TV, he’s lying,” Fetterman said of Oz, a celebrity heart surgeon who is 62 years old. He accused his opponent of misleading voters about his voting record and said the doctor “never let me forget” about the stroke.
Monitors showed a live transcript of the moderators’ questions and Oz’s responses.
Inflation, abortion, crime
Inflation in the United States has reached 40-year highs, hurting consumers and forcing Democrats like Fetterman to defend an issue that polls show is voters’ top concern.
Oz and Republicans have attempted to link Democrats’ large-spending bills dealing with issues such as COVID-19 and climate change to rising consumer prices.
Oz claims that his training as a heart surgeon taught him how to make difficult decisions.
At tonight's debate, John Fetterman STILL refused to give Pennsylvanians answers:
Fetterman did not explain his position on fracking in 2018 where he said, "I do not support fracking at all, and I never have.”
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) October 26, 2022
“I’ll make them cut our budget as well so we don’t have to raise taxes on a population that is already suffering from high inflation,” Oz said.
Inflation, according to Fetterman, is a tax on working families.
“Dr Oz can’t possibly understand what that’s like,” he said, doubting Oz’s ability to empathise with American families.
Fetterman stated that rising costs only strengthen his support for a federal $15 minimum wage, which Oz opposes becoming law.
Another contentious issue that divided the two candidates during the debate was abortion.
Oz insists he supports three exceptions – for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother.
When pressed Tuesday night, he said he opposes South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham’s bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks because it would allow the federal government to dictate state law.
“I’m not going to support federal rules that limit states’ ability to do what they want,” Oz said.
“If you believe that the choice for abortion belongs to you and your doctor, that’s what I fight for,” Fetterman told women.