Will John Fetterman's refusal to debate Dr. Oz hurt his chances in PA?
"It's no secret to anyone who followed the Democratic primary race in Pennsylvania that Fetterman isn't the strongest debater," he said."If voters perceive he's trying to hide behind his health condition to avoid a one-on-one with Oz, that could be used effectively against him."Fetterman's decision not to debate Oz also runs the risk of raising voters' concerns about his health and his potential performance as a senator.
"The way debates are conducted, all he has to do is deliver canned remarks somehow related to each topic of discussion," he said. "It is often to the advantage of the front runner to keep debates to a minimum. After all, things are going well enough for them and a debate might provide their opponent an opportunity to make inroads," Bateman told"Given that Fetterman seems to be experiencing a common after-effect of strokes that makes it temporarily difficult for him to participate in such a setting, the logic of bowing out makes even more sense," he said.
"The problem for Oz is that he has to walk a fine line. His campaign has already been accused of making insensitive remarks regarding Fetterman's stroke, and he can't afford another attack in the same vein," Gift toldIf Oz goes too hard after Fetterman, or if voters perceive he's trying to bully his opponent recovering from a serious health ailment, he risks his criticism backfiring," Gift said.
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