The Democrats are pinning hopes on gruff-speaking, tattooed John Fetterman to flip a Republican seat
President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have scrambled to Pennsylvania in a last-ditch attempt to save their candidate’s Senate campaign, after new polls showed a dramatic swing towards Donald Trump acolyte Dr Mehmet Oz.
The Democrats had been pinning their hopes on John Fetterman, the 6ft9inch progressive lieutenant governor, to flip a Republican seat in an all-important bellwether state that could decide control of the US Senate and the future of Mr Biden’s presidency.
The 53-year-old enjoyed a double-digit lead over celebrity surgeon Dr Oz through the summer, despite suffering a near-deadly stroke just days before the primary in May.
After a painful performance in Tuesday’s debate in the capital Harrisburg – the first and only between the two candidates – however, Mr Fetterman was trailing the Republican 45 points to 48 with little over a week to go before the vote.