Please lower your expectations. That’s the messaging that the Fetterman campaign issued yesterday in the run up to tonight’s debate with Mehmet Oz.

In a memo sent to reporters, the Fetterman campaign seeks to lower expectations for tomorrow’s debate with Oz: “We’ll admit — this isn’t John’s format … if we’re all being honest, Oz clearly comes into Tuesday night with a huge built-in advantage.” pic.twitter.com/21CCMGGvbI

— Holly Otterbein (@hollyotterbein) October 24, 2022

If all the Fetterman campaign has is, ‘Oz was major TV personality so he’ll win the debate probably because TV!’ then the campaign has very little. On October 20th Biden traveled to Pennsylvania to campaign WITH John Fetterman. Except Fetterman never said a word. Just loomed and lurked around while his wife Gisele ran interference and wouldn’t let anyone ask him questions. 

Furthermore, that NBC interview did the Fetterman campaign zero favors, which is why they wanted Dasha Burns fired instead of admitting that Fetterman isn’t capable of well, anything. 

Here are a few things we are supposed to watch for during tonight’s one-hour debate. 

• Will Biden and Trump figure in the debate in any form?
• Will Fetterman’s messaging on abortion resonate?
• Will Fetterman’s health affect his performance?
• Will Oz ‘be nice’ to Fetterman because of his health?
• Will Oz focus on the issues of the economy and crime?

First of all, Fetterman’s health IS fair game here. Just as Biden’s health was and IS fair game, Fetterman needs to either show he can handle the pressure and is recovering well from his stroke, or gracefully step away. And no, a cute little letter from his doctor who also happens to be a campaign donor doesn’t count. 

As far as the issues of the economy and crime, it’s a serious problem in Pennsylvania, particularly in Philadelphia with an activist DA at the helm. 

An example of a question that may be asked involves both of their stances concerning sentencing regarding felony murders. 

Democratic nominee John Fetterman doesn’t want life without parole to be mandatory in felony murder cases, and is criticizing racial inequities in who is charged with the crime. His Republican opponent, Mehmet Oz, is fixating on these issues to accuse Fetterman of being soft on crime in general, even falsely claiming the Democrat wants to free all murderers from prison. They are expected to spar over these issues during their only televised debate tonight.

While we’ve been skeptical about Mehmet Oz for multiple reasons, by all accounts he’s crisscrossed the state hundreds of times and is really listening to people. Meanwhile Fetterman has pulled a Biden and campaigned from his basement for months. Thus, this debate is crucial on multiple levels for Pennsylvania. 

Now on to the debate!

Well folks, for those of you who weren’t or didn’t watch. This was a very painful debate. Those who decided that Fetterman could debate, quite frankly need to be horsewhipped. 

Fetterman started and he started with an immediately hostile tone, and kept up the belligerence throughout. Furthermore, it didn’t matter the question, John Fetterman couldn’t or wouldn’t answer the specific question. 

Mod: "Why haven't you released your medical records?"

Fetterman: "My doctors believe I am ready to be served."

Mod: "Why won't you release the records?"

Fetterman: "My doctor believes I am fit to be serving and I believe that is where I am standing." pic.twitter.com/kTH88tPH0Q

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 26, 2022

Fetterman totally couldn’t answer about his flip flop on fracking. 

Fetterman just melts down after a long pause when confronted about his flip flopping on fracking. pic.twitter.com/ceGtuNt61J

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) October 26, 2022

On immigration, Oz wants the border closed and the issues that have come up because of our porous border (crime, human trafficking, drugs) need to be dealt with. As for Fetterman, I quite honestly couldn’t understand his answer. 

On foreign policy, Fetterman said China is a threat, and that was pretty much it. Oz gave a detailed nuanced answer that included energy independence that could help our allies who are hurting for fuel this winter. 

As for supporting Biden’s current policies, Fetterman paused and then gave half answer that included ‘fight inflation better!’ 

There’s so much more to this debate as far as the answers Fetterman couldn’t provide and Oz did. Fetterman had WEEKS of prep and was provided specialized captioning to help him through the debate. And it STILL didn’t end well for him. 

Shame on every reporter who attacked @DashaBurns over her Fetterman reporting, and tried to cover up what we are all witnessing now with our own eyes

— Alana Goodman (@alanagoodman) October 26, 2022

He can't get a straight answer about his opponents position. This is the point. This guy will have to give voice votes and read legislation. Just incredible to watch anyone get behind this.

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 26, 2022

I will say that Mehmet Oz handled himself as a participant in a debate and conducted himself accordingly, and he completely left alone the issue of Fetterman’s stroke. Then again, he didn’t need to address it. Fetterman’s performance said it all. Fetterman should never have been on that stage. 

We were all told to lower our expectations regarding Fetterman and his performance on the debate stage. Well, given that performance, Pennsylvania has a choice to make, and tonight’s debate should give any undecided voters the answer they need. 

Feature Photo Credit: Original Artwork by Victory Girls Darleen Click