The polls were showing it a neck-and-neck race. Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. And for Fetterman, being in the Senate fulfills one of his life goals: Hes run twice to join the upper chamber, including a 2016 campaign that fell far short in the Democratic primary. But Oz faced yet another problem: Doug Mastriano, the Republican gubernatorial nominee running far to the right of Oz, had been a drag on the Republican ticket throughout the campaign. After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center] told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself, Jentleson concluded. John is already healthier and more articulate than about 80 percent of the Senate, and he's getting better every day," said Rebecca Katz, a senior adviser to the Fetterman campaign. John emerged as one of Pennsylvania's leading progressive voices for working people, running on issues like inequality, racial justice, and ending the failed war on drugs - issues that the Democratic Party would only later recognize as key to winning over and turning out voters. John Fetterman has dedicated his life to fighting for Pennsylvanias forgotten communities. See details. Josh Shapiro would have to appoint a replacement and a special election would be held in 2024 to select a candidate to finish out the remainder of Fettermans six-year term. The Associated Press contributed to this report. But Democratic colleagues stood by Fetterman and held out hope that voters would sympathize with him despite his lingering troubles. Door op Alles accepteren te klikken, gaat u ermee akkoord dat Yahoo en onze partners uw persoonlijke informatie zullen verwerken en technologien, zoals cookies zullen gebruiken, om gepersonaliseerde advertenties en inhoud weer te geven, voor het meten van advertenties en inhoud, inzicht in de doelgroep en productontwikkeling. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md. The newly elected Pennsylvania Democrat is still getting inpatient treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with no concrete timetable for his return to the Capitol. The fresh funding paid for more ads in which the 6-foot-8, bald-headed, tatted-up politician talked about taking on crime as the former mayor of a steel town and sought to emasculate Oz by portraying him as an elitist from New Jersey. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Oz -- who attended medical school and married in Pennsylvania -- moved in late 2020 into a house owned by his wife's family in the Philadelphia suburb of Bryn Athyn, his team says. Essentially the strategy became: Stay alive until October.. Austin is proud to work alongside Josh to move Pennsylvania forward in Harrisburg. Still, Fetterman caved to the pressure from Oz. By the time the election arrived, the Biden appearance appeared to have done more good than harm or perhaps voters decided that the man who doesnt look or talk like a typical politician is not Biden. Sen. Fetterman checks himself into hospital for clinical depression, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), another Iraq War veteran in Congress, tweeted: There is never any weakness in seeking help. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), whos spoken publicly about her own battle with depression, also said Fetterman was displaying strength, not weakness.. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, checked himself into a Washington, DC hospital, freshman Democratic lawmaker wont be back on the Senate floor, Delusional Democrats think Fetterman and Feinstein still fit to serve, Sen. John Fetterman to spend weeks in hospital for depression, Past the crime and grime, theres still no place as wondrous as NYC, Dont bet on The New York Times to resist trans extremists. Fetterman voluntarily admitted himself on Feb. 15. In 2005, while John was teaching GED classes, he was encouraged by his students to run for mayor of Braddock. Sen. John Fettermans (D-Penn.) Everyone is being very accommodating and wants what is best for Johns health. But if we can say, Look, this guy doesnt even know how to fucking shop a reference to an infamous video that Oz shot where he called a vegetable tray crudit and garbled the name of the supermarket it helps you push back against the economy., Fetterman also ran ads that distanced himself from Democrats in the capitol, acknowledging that the economy was a mess because of Washington and blaming supply chain and inflation issues on the rich and powerful, the insiders and lobbyists. No update was released on the status of Gisele Fetterman, the senators wife, who last week noted on Twitter that she fled to Canada when her husband was hospitalized. Senator John Fetterman on Tuesday applauded the United States Department of, An official website of the United States government, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Suite B40B, Fetterman Statement on New Union Membership Statistics, Fetterman Applauds New $6.8 Million USDA Agreement with Pennsylvania to Increase Purchase of Nutritious Local Foods for School Meals. In 2019, Smith spoke on the Senate floor about experiencing depression in college and then again as a young mother while pushing for legislation to get more mental health resources in schools. Navigation Governor Josh Shapiro Lt. But when Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sought treatment for depression this week, colleagues rallied around him, signaling a shift in the way those holding public office talk about mental health. All of those things are some of the stigmas that youre just not as strong as they thought you were.. And why wasnt his team being more forthcoming about his medical history? Hi, We're Levi and Artie Fetterman. ERIE, Pa. Lt. Gov. Despite help from a closed captioning system, Fettermans speech was halting and hard to follow. PHILADELPHIA In a cramped, bare-bones campaign office in downtown Philadelphia adorned with a poster of the city's shaggy-haired, Cheeto-colored mascot Gritty, John Fetterman's top aides . A steady stream of news outlets continued to grill Fetterman about when he would face Oz in a debate, replacing the early-summer headlines of pop culture icons criticizing the celebrity doctor. Were rooting for you. It was all wrong. So they went for Snooki instead. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is "doing well" in his course of treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, his office has said. Just last week we opened a new office in Erie and will be opening several more offices in the coming weeks.". However, this made little sense since, in Pennsylvania, vacancies in the U.S. Senate are filled by gubernatorial appointment. Fettermans office updates on his health: We dont have a lot to update folks with since theres no real news to report except that John is doing well, working with the wonderful doctors, and remains on a path to recovery. pic.twitter.com/5UIyAFDn4T, Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela) February 27, 2023, Fetterman entered Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Feb. 15 to undergo in-patient treatment for clinical depression. It is hard to believe she is not conscious of the political advantage of disposing of this issue up front now, early in the campaign, Marvin Kalb, head of the Joan Shorenstein media center at Harvard University, said at the time. I realized there was a power about being open and honest, Smith said. Copyright 2023 The Western Journal. He made. Scott Applewhite, File), "He is visiting with staff and family daily, and his staff are keeping him updated on Senate business and news," Calvello said in a statement. I am not really sure how to navigate this journey but am figuring it out slowly. staff has released an update regarding his condition. Honestly, some of Johns performance was nerves, said McPhillips, Fettermans campaign manager. It was late summer, and GOP super PACs had been torching the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate hopeful, casting him as a lunatic who wanted to throw open the prison gates to release convicted murderers. Its not clear why this man hasnt been investigated yet. The thinking went that if Fettermans team could show that the Donald Trump-endorsed Republican was a wealthy, out-of-touch carpetbagger who didnt understand average Pennsylvanians, then it could make the case that he wouldnt fight for average Pennsylvanians when it came to inflation, either. And he had to do it when his party had complete control of Washington both houses of Congress and the presidency. Fetterman adviser Rebecca Katz said the campaign originally tried to get the Situation, another Jersey Shore star, to do the bit. We have gone through periods of time since Ive been in the Senate where members have been [gone] for lengthy periods of time for good reasons, health reasons. We are getting zero pressure for him to come back before the timeline weve laid out for Johns recovery, said Adam Jentleson, Fettermans chief of staff. Eventually, editorial boards also called on him to release his medical records and to agree to an immediate debate to demonstrate that he had made a good recovery. Although a doctor and campaign donor released a letter claiming Fetterman could work full duty, the senators chief of staff recently saidFetterman should have done as little as possible.. But, she added, it was more important to talk about and normalize depression. That was hard to watch, a television news commentator said in the opening seconds of the first ad. In his 13 years as mayor, John worked to rebuild his community, creating jobs, stopping gun violence, getting youth engaged, and bringing creative urban policy solutions to Braddock. He suffered a stroke in March 2022 while campaigning for Senate, and depression is considered by many doctors to be a common stroke after-effect. By reinventing his Senate campaign after a stroke, Lt. Gov. (AP Photo/J. Fettermans campaign stayed up late cutting a TV ad focusing on it, which McPhillips said he signed off on at 2:10 a.m. or something.. | Mark Makela/Getty Images, By Burgess Everett, Marianne LeVine and Daniella Diaz. When the debate took place in late October, the decision appeared to have been a miscalculation. And he continues to push himself in ways that people close to him worry are detrimental., What youre supposed to do to recover from this is do as little as possible, Fettermans chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, explained. We understand the intense interest in Johns status and especially appreciate the flood of well-wishes, Calvello said. Our team is moving full speed ahead and working tirelessly for the people of Pennsylvania, Calvello said. However, as we have said, this will be a weeks-long process and while we will be sure to keep folks updated as it progresses, this is all there is to give by way of an update.. Join Our Campaign We're building a grassroots campaign to fight for every vote in every one of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Glasser also noted that Eagleton kept serving in the Senate and was later reelected. Joe Biden campaigned in Pennsylvania the weekend before the election, even as Fettermans team recommended against it, according to three people familiar with the conversations. John Fetterman United States Senator from Pennsylvania Incumbent Assumed office January 3, 2023 Serving with Bob Casey Jr. Preceded by Pat Toomey 34th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania In office January 15, 2019 - January 3, 2023 Governor Tom Wolf Preceded by Mike Stack Succeeded by Austin Davis Mayor of Braddock In office Its entirely unclear how long John Fetterman will stay out of the Senate. They knew that the presidents popularity was dismal with many Pennsylvanians, and that Fetterman would do better keeping his brand at a remove from Washington. "Our campaign is running full speed ahead, we are organizing, we are up on TV, John and our team are 100. He participated in mock debates. Joe Calvello had been in the hospital with Fetterman in the immediate days after he had nearly died. "John Fetterman will be at the top of the ticket this November," Calvello said. And in the end, thats the difference, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), said of Fetterman. John Fetterman, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania and Democratic senate candidate, speaks during a campaign rally in Erie, Penn., Aug. 12, 2022. Fetterman was off the campaign trail for roughly three months - from mid-May when he suffered the stroke until August when he began campaigning in public again. Joe Calvello, Fettermans director of communications, provided the positive update, but signaled that the freshman Democratic lawmaker wont be back on the Senate floor anytime soon. Even as Dr. Mehmet Oz, the state's Republican Senate nominee, started traveling across the commonwealth for a . Fetterman has suffered from depression "off and on" throughout his life, according to Adam Jentleson, the senator's chief of staff, noting it had become more frequent. Contact organization. FILE - Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. But there was a silver lining her husband returned to Missouri a big hero whom everyone cheered for. This is a common cause of strokes, according to medical experts. I think hes gone through some challenges, and that the stroke had some impacts on his hearing, I think its going to come back, said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who suffered a stroke on campaign trail, hospitalized for lightheadedness Candy Woodall USA TODAY 0:04 0:41 WASHINGTON Sen. John Fetterman, who had a. Market data provided by Factset. Her revelation came as her husband, Vice President Al Gore, ramped up his presidential campaign. ( Mark Pellin, Headline USA ) In the wake of allegations that stroke victim Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., recently hospitalized for depression, had been declared clinically brain-dead, the Senator's spokesman fueled . Bob Shrum, a speechwriter for the 1972 McGovern campaign, said its clear there has been a shift since the time when so many saw keeping Eagleton on a ballot as politically unsustainable.. PHILADELPHIA In a cramped, bare-bones campaign office in downtown Philadelphia adorned with a poster of the citys shaggy-haired, Cheeto-colored mascot Gritty, John Fettermans top aides gathered to discuss a problem that could sink the campaign: Their candidate was getting badly outspent on TV, and they were desperate for ways to halt it. 1 week ago today when the news dropped, the kids were off from school and media trucks circled our home. However, as we have said, this will be a weeks-long process and while we will be sure to keep folks updated as it progresses, this is all there is to give by way of an update., The update comes on the heels of a rumor started by radio host John Cardillo that Fetterman is essentially brain dead and its being hidden because keeping him in office until August 18th avoids a special election which Republicans would most certainly win.. Democrats have a 50-49 majority as their first-term Pennsylvanian recovers. He was sworn in as a United States Senator to serve the people of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania on January 3, 2023. Instead, a newspapers reporting prompted the campaign to disclose it, he said. Fetterman's medical problems trace back to at least 2017, according to the campaign. I wish that his critics would show a little bit of humanity.. Through that conversation and the many others that would follow, the campaign settled on a strategy to weather that strong tide by seizing on one of Ozs ultimate top weaknesses: his paper-thin ties to the state. The Fetterman campaign squandered credibility by concealing from the public for two days after his stroke that he had been hospitalized. For John, he shared with the American people, if youre not feeling well, go in., Mental health issues continue to carry stigma in this country, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). It turns out, said Katz, that most Pennsylvanians didnt agree with Oz that abortion is a decision best made by women, their doctors and local political leaders.. He did not suffer a second stroke, his doctors determined. Reports have emerged that Fetterman has privately acknowledged that his health is worse than he has publicly acknowledged. In the end, it seems, Ozs gaffes in the debate may be been more meaningful than Fettermans. Frustrated by the success Fetterman seemed to be having conducting Google Meet calls from inside his home, the Oz camp made direct appeals to media to begin asking questions about Fettermans health: Why wasnt he campaigning more, if he was 90 percent recovered? Still, he disclosed that, as a Marine veteran who fought in Iraq, hed struggled with post-traumatic stress and sought treatment for it. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. That's a BIG deal for someone. In another, Fettermans campaign featured a worker lambasting D.C. for attacking small towns while promising the Democratic candidate would fight for higher wages and good American jobs.. Read our editorial standards. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: Sen. John Fetterman Hospitalized After Reportedly Feeling Lightheaded). Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) departs a closed-door, classified briefing for Senators at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. The gamble paid off: When Election Day came, Fetterman not only flipped a GOP-held seat blue, but he also upended Republicans hopes of a massive sweep of the Senate map and complicated their path to winning a majority. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Fetterman has suffered from depression off and on throughout his life, according to Adam Jentleson, the senators chief of staff, noting it had become more frequent. PITTSBURGH John Fetterman, the 6-foot-8 lieutenant governor who won a blowout victory for the Democratic Senate nomination on Tuesday while he was in a hospital recovering from a stroke and . John Fetterman not only flipped a GOP-held seat blue, but he also upended Republicans hopes of a massive sweep of the Senate map and complicated their path to winning a majority. His speech was halting and labored as he sometimes mixed up words during the hearing, a remnant of his auditory processing problems following the stroke. With Fetterman out, Democrats still have a 50-49 majority that allows unilateral confirmation of nominees without a vice presidential tie-breaker. The campaign of Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Senate nominee John Fetterman says the candidate, who's seen here on May 10, is set to soon return to the campaign trail after suffering a stroke. And nerves and anxiety trigger more of the speech problems., McPhillips thought at the time that the impact of the debate was minimal. After all, Oz had had actually gifted Democrats with a gaffe of his own: During the debate, he said local political leaders should help decide abortion policy. Within days of the October debate, GOP super PACs began launching commercials focusing on his shaky performance. But I absolutely could see how you can get down in the dumps over that.. I did the first thing I could think of pack them in the car and drive, she wrote Friday. We understand the intense interest in Johns status and especially appreciate the flood of well-wishes. ), who also suffered from a stroke last year, said his staff had reached out to Fettermans team in case it needed assistance. Id rather have him here than not., Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that Fetterman is trying to take care of his health. Eagletons widow, Barbara, said she understood why her husband was pressured to drop out of the presidential race. I think thats an important point to emphasize, given Fetterman, is that here we have an example of someone who was treated for depression and was able to perform his job as senator, Glasser said. U.S. Sen. John Fettermans office on Monday provided an update on his inpatient treatment for clinical depression but acknowledged that theres no real news on his situation. So he gets the extra hard look over his illness when other senators get a pass for theirs.. Another source familiar with the event said that the Pennsylvania Democrat told Biden he couldnt believe how much hes done for him and how thankful he is.. And polls were tightening, as reporters were asking more and more questions about his aides least favorite topic: Fettermans stroke. Some Republicans argued then that he wasnt fit for office due to his post-stroke condition and debate performance. Doc Oz, in his Gucci loafers, is attacking me on crime. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) When John Fetterman goes to Washington in January as one of the Senate's new members, he'll bring along an irreverent style from . About the need to be gentle with all and with ourselves, she wrote. Legendary musician Ozzy Osbourne continues to struggle with health challenges that prevent him from touring. It just seemed like a difficult situation.. Folks, she said, are just a little more used to these things.. The update . CNN struggled historically across the board during the month of February as one program saw its lowest viewership since 2005. Retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey, who campaigned on Ozs behalf, said before polls closed on Tuesday that if Mastriano lost by double digits which he ended up doing it would amount to a lot of headwinds to overcome.. Fetterman inching back onto campaign trail, 2 months after stroke The Democratic Senate candidate acknowledges small problems with speech and hearing, but says he's ready to resume campaigning.. It was important for us to make sure that were not nationalizing the campaign., Fetterman ultimately joined both Biden and Obama at a rally in Philadelphia. One moment that took off was when the Fetterman campaign tweeted a video of Snooki, the reality TV personality who starred on Jersey Shore, ridiculing Oz: I heard that you moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania to look for a new job. The team had gotten it through Cameo, which allows users to pay for famous people to record personalized videos for them. His staff released an update on Monday that said Fetterman remains on a path to recovery and is staying briefed on Senate action. He has said the stroke nearly killed him. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. I was very impressed with the fact that instead of trying to cover it up and go to a private treatment facility under an alias, that [Fetterman] and his family decided to fundamentally come out about it and fundamentally legitimize it as a medical disorder, said Nemeroff, who also serves as president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. needed after significant injuries in 2012 and 2006, respectively. When Fetterman first tried his hand at higher office, he had already made a splash in the national press during his tenure as mayor of Braddock, a small, economically depressed steel town just. And talking about the reality of, This is going to be tough to talk about as a Democrat.. He is visiting with staff and family daily, and his staff are keeping him updated on Senate business and news, he said. Senator John Fetterman spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day, BRADDOCK, PA Pennsylvania U.S. Website https://johnfetterman.com/ Industries. Four days before the primary back in May, Fetterman's campaign announced that he was in the hospital recovering from a stroke, and then underwent a procedure on Election Day to have a pacemaker. Pennsylvania Sen.-elect John Fetterman waves a towel after being introduced by wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman. "I do support fracking," he said. The contest in the Keystone State a clash between two giant, disparate personalities was the most expensive and most-talked about race this year. The fact that the Supreme Court ended the national right to an abortion also appeared to have boosted Fetterman. Then later in the month, before last weeks recess, Fetterman checked himself into the hospital for depression. Her video landed in their inboxes during a meeting. Several senators, including Durbin and Sen. Ben Ray Lujn (D-N.M.), said theyd sent Fetterman notes since he checked into the hospital earlier this month. A spokesman for Sen. John Fetterman provided a positive update on the lawmaker's ongoing treatment for clinical depression, but signaled that he won't be back on the Senate floor anytime soon. But Republicans were starting to double that, leaving the GOPs ad blitz swamping them on the airwaves. Democrat candidate pours millions of dollars into punchy TikTok and Instagram strategy. Speaking to NBC, the Fetterman adviser Rebecca Katz said: "John is communicating effectively with the people of Pennsylvania and running one of the best Senate campaigns in the country. All Rights Reserved. Fetterman defied the conventional wisdom that voters punish candidates from the presidents party in midterm elections. Over the past decade in particular, wars, the pandemic and the insurrection have helped spearhead conversations about mental health in Congress. Raadpleeg ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw gegevens gebruiken. It was stomach-churning, McPhillips recalled. What I would worry about is whether there were people basically taking advantage of him and encouraging him to run for the Senate when he wasnt physically able to do it, but he wasnt well. Fetterman remains hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Centeras he undergoes treatment for clinical depression. He struggled during his lone debate against Republican Mehmet Oz, but still won his race by nearly five points. Fetterman remains hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center as he undergoes treatment . Mr Fetterman, a. She said she hopes he recovers quickly and returns to work in the Senate. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. The Fetterman campaign doubled the amount it was spending on television each week, from $800,000 to $1.5 million and increased it even more in the weeks thereafter. pic.twitter.com/0PWQXHrbqT, Gisele Barreto Fetterman (@giselefetterman) February 24, 2023. He went on to win the election to the Senate in November. John Fetterman, the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania and the Democratic frontrunner in next month's high-profile Senate primary, said he was "eager to affirm" his "unwavering" commitment to bolstering ties between the United States and Israel in an interview with Jewish Insider on Thursday, emphasizing that he will . John Fetterman - Official Campaign Website Support John Fetterman for Senate Watch Every County, Every Vote Join Our Team A different kind of Democrat. Governor Fetterman is well and shows strong commitment to maintaining good fitness and health practices. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Fetterman, the state's lieutenant governor since 2019, and Oz, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, ran one of the most contentious and expensive Senate contests in the country -. Lujn, who suffered a stroke last year and offered Fetterman repeated encouragement during the campaign, said that Fettermans public acknowledgement of his mental health is a significant step: How many other folks have maybe done the same thing and not shared about admitting themselves? Legal Statement. Evan Agostini - Invision / AP; John Lamparski / Getty Images. Fetterman is clearly cognitively impaired, however, and the New York Times previously acknowledged that he had been struggling to adjust to his responsibilities on Capitol Hill, and that he had becomefrustrated that he may have suffered permanent brain damage by campaigning instead of resting after his stroke last May. We dont have a lot to update folks with since theres no real news to report except that John is doing well, working with the wonderful doctors, and remains on a path to recovery, Fettermans communications director Joe Calvello said in a statement. All Rights Reserved. Eagleton, a Missouri Democrat and a vice-presidential nominee in 1972, had been hospitalized three times for depression and undergone electroshock therapy, a revelation that derailed his chance to serve in the White House. The aide said Fetterman has been struggling with the changes that have taken place in his life and questioning his self-worth. or redistributed. Email address* Zip code* Mobile number terms & We understand the intense interest in Johns status and especially appreciate the flood of well wishes, Calvello said. Get the latest news delivered right to your email. editorial boards also called on him to release his medical records, when exit polls were released on Election Day. The other way Rupert Murdoch tried to tip the scales for Trump, The Trump-DeSantis contest may come down to education, Rupert Murdochs big admission about Fox News. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In early June, a few weeks after his stroke, Fetterman got on a video chat with his communication director using closed captions, which enabled him to understand the conversation despite the auditory processing difficulties he had suffered.