Dr. Oz emerges victorious from Pennsylvania recount

by mcardinal

Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News

 

Television-personality-turned-senatorial-hopeful Mehmet Oz will represent the Republican Party in this fall’s Pennsylvania senatorial election.

Friday, former CEO David McCormick conceded that an ongoing recount of the Pennsylvania Republican primary would not yield enough votes for him to overtake Oz.

Oz confirmed as much in a thread on Twitter.

“I received a gracious phone call from David McCormick and am tremendously grateful for his pledge of support in the fall election,” Oz wrote. “We share the goal of a brighter future for Pennsylvania & America.” He later added, “I look forward to campaigning in every corner of the Commonwealth for the next five months to earn the support of every Pennsylvanian.”

 

In the same thread, Oz began the process of refocusing himself, and Pennsylvania Republicans, on Lieutenant Gov. John Fetterman, who will represent the Democrats.

“Now that our primary is over, we will make sure that this U.S. Senate seat does not fall into the hands of the radical left, led by John Fetterman,” Oz wrote.

On his website, Fetterman lists numerous left-friendly stances – he’s pro BLM, pro-abortion, pro legalized marijuana, and wants a national minimum wage of at least $15. He also states that he wants corporate money out of politics but, as was reported by the Associated Press, he might be a bit late for this election.

Oz and Fetterman are vying to replace the retiring Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican. In an equally divided Senate, both national parties have an intense interest in the outcome and are funneling millions into Pennsylvania to run attack ads.

Fetterman, who is running a campaign on the idea that he is “bought and paid for” by the common man, acknowledged on Twitter only that Republicans were spending big on such ads.

“So Republicans just spent $2.3 MILLION in ads against me + our campaign,” Fetterman wrote. “The first big General Election attack against yours truly.”

In the same tweet, Fetterman lobbied for donations.

Oz’s victory over McCormick was also a win for former President Donald Trump who, through his endorsement, vouched for Oz’s conservatism. Unlike many of Trump’s picks in other races, Oz has a checkered past on certain hot-button issues.

The doctor was once very much pro-choice, previously advocated for Americans having less access to guns, and in 2010 received rave reviews from GLAAD for having done a show on transgender children.

“You’re in full on cult territory if you’re supporting a straight up leftist pro-abortion gun grabber because Trump told you to. Use your own brain for God’s sake,” Conservative pundit Matt Walsh tweeted in mid-May. He later added, “Oh, I forgot to mention that Dr Oz is also a Turkish citizen who lives in New Jersey and yet [is] running for senate in PA. Just literally not one good thing about the guy. Not one conservative thing either. Great endorsement, Trump!”

In a strange turn of events, the leftist Fetterman’s views aligned with the traditionalist Walsh. Fetterman has positioned himself as a homegrown Pennsylvanian facing an attack from outside the state.

Friday night, shortly after Oz was confirmed the Republican primary winner, Fetterman tweeted, “<checks notes> I ACTUALLY LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA!!!”

Despite the reservations some conservatives might hold, former President Trump has assured his supporters that Oz is a changed man – something Oz has repeatedly done in his campaign. Moreover, Trump attests, Oz stands the best chance of success this fall.

“[I] believe that Mehmet Oz will be the one most able to win the General Election against a Radical Left Democrat looking to do unthinkable harm to our Country,” Trump wrote in his initial endorsement.

The former president bases his optimism on his belief Oz will poll better among woman and in metropolitan areas.

“Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel,” Trump wrote. “I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him. Likewise, he will do very well in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, where other candidates will just not be accepted.”

The kicker for Oz, and by extension Republicans, will be whether the conservatives who initially sided with McCormick will choose Oz.

McCormick has pledged his support to Oz and promised to take steps to rally Pennsylvania Republicans around the official nominee.  

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