Fetterman on debate: 'It wasn't easy'

KNEW THE DEBATE WAS STILL ON PEOPLE’S MINDS. >> NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING AND JOHN FETTERMAN IS THE REAL THING. >> WITH THE HELP OF THE STAR DAVE MATTHEWS JOHN FETTERMAN AIMED TO ENERGIZE SUPPORTERS. >> NOW THAT YOU SEE HIM I THINK HE DOES BETTER SPEAKING ON HIS OWN. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS COURAGEOUS OF JOHN TO GET UP THERE AND DO WHAT HE DID. >> TO ME IT DOES NOT AFFECT ANYTHING AT ALL I BELIEVE HE IS -- >> SUPPORTERS WE SPOKE WITH DID NOT TONIGHT FETTERMAN STRUGGLED LAST NIGHT. EVEN THE CANDIDATE ADMITTED IT WAS NOT EASY. >> I MAY NOT GET EVERY WORD THE RIGHT WAY, BUT I WILL ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING IN WASHINGTON DC. >> FETTERMAN STOCK SAYS THOSE STUMBLES DO NOT INDICATE COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT BUT AFTER WATCHING LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE, ONE PITTSBURGHER IS NOT CONVINCED. >> I’M NOT SURE IF MR. FETTERMAN’S PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE HIM IN THIS RACE, I FEEL BAD FOR HIM. IF MY DECISION WAS MADE TODAY IT WOULD BE FOR OZ. >> BACK ON THE TRAIL TODAY, MEHMET OZ TRIED TO CAST HIMSELF AS A UNIFIER. >> NO ONE EVER ASKS ME HOW ARE WE GOING TO BEAT UP THE OTHER SIDE, WHAT DOES COME UP IS STOP BICKERING. >> TUESDAY NIGHT OZ DID NOT MAKE ANY MENTION OF FETTERMAN’S HEALTH, A DEPARTURE FROM EARLIER IN HIS CAMPAIGN. >> LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE WAS A FOCUS TO BRING BALANCE TO WASHINGTON, LEFT AND RIGHT, BIPARTISAN IN THEIR VERY NATURE. >> SPEAKING OF DEBATE PERFORMANCES, FETTERMAN AND HIS ALLIES HAVE TRIED TO SEIZE ON A MOMENT INVOLVING REPUBLICAN MEHMET OZ, LAST NIGHT IT HAS SINCE GONE VIRAL TALKING ABOUT ABORTION. OZ SUGGESTED LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS BE INVOLVED IN THOSE DECISIONS. IN FACT THE FETTERMAN CAMPAIGN ALREADY CUT IN ADD TODAY OF OZ SAYI

One night after his debate against Republican Mehmet Oz, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman admitted the experience "wasn't easy.""I knew it wasn't going to be easy after having a stroke after five months," Fetterman said to a crowd of supporters at Stage AE in Pittsburgh's North Shore Wednesday.The rally, featuring a performance by Dave Matthews, came as a new poll from Franklin & Marshall showed Fetterman maintaining a narrow lead of 49% to 45% over Oz among likely voters in Pennsylvania. The poll was conducted prior to the debate.The first and only debate between the candidates included closed captioning for Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May. Fetterman's campaign requested that the candidate be aided by a closed captioning device, due to his lingering auditory processing issues. Oz's campaign agreed to that condition.Despite the availability of the closed captioning, Fetterman stumbled when answering questions and took awkward pauses throughout the night.Fetterman's doctor and campaign aides have emphasized that the candidate's auditory processing issues do not indicate cognitive impairment. "I may not get every word the right way," Fetterman said at the rally. "But I will always do the right thing in Washington, D.C."Pittsburgh's Action News 4 caught up with Fetterman supporters waiting in line for the rally. One woman said she believes the closed captioning system was actually a detriment."I think he does better speaking on his own," said Linda Fitterer.Other supporters did not deny Fetterman struggled at times during the debate, but said his performance did not change their minds."I just think it was courageous of John to get up there and do what he did," said Bryan McGeary.In his stump speech Wednesday, Fetterman touted his support for raising the minimum wage, preserving abortion access, and fighting for unions. Recounting the debate, Fetterman honed in on a moment that Democrats have seized on: Oz's suggestion that "local political leaders" be involved in decisions pertaining to abortion."He believes that local political leaders should be making that choice," Fetterman said. "Not a woman between her and her doctor."

PITTSBURGH —

One night after his debate against Republican Mehmet Oz, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman admitted the experience "wasn't easy."

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy after having a stroke after five months," Fetterman said to a crowd of supporters at Stage AE in Pittsburgh's North Shore Wednesday.

The rally, featuring a performance by Dave Matthews, came as a new poll from Franklin & Marshall showed Fetterman maintaining a narrow lead of 49% to 45% over Oz among likely voters in Pennsylvania. The poll was conducted prior to the debate.

The first and only debate between the candidates included closed captioning for Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May. Fetterman's campaign requested that the candidate be aided by a closed captioning device, due to his lingering auditory processing issues. Oz's campaign agreed to that condition.

Despite the availability of the closed captioning, Fetterman stumbled when answering questions and took awkward pauses throughout the night.

Fetterman's doctor and campaign aides have emphasized that the candidate's auditory processing issues do not indicate cognitive impairment.

"I may not get every word the right way," Fetterman said at the rally. "But I will always do the right thing in Washington, D.C."

Pittsburgh's Action News 4 caught up with Fetterman supporters waiting in line for the rally. One woman said she believes the closed captioning system was actually a detriment.

"I think he does better speaking on his own," said Linda Fitterer.

Other supporters did not deny Fetterman struggled at times during the debate, but said his performance did not change their minds.

"I just think it was courageous of John to get up there and do what he did," said Bryan McGeary.

In his stump speech Wednesday, Fetterman touted his support for raising the minimum wage, preserving abortion access, and fighting for unions.

Recounting the debate, Fetterman honed in on a moment that Democrats have seized on: Oz's suggestion that "local political leaders" be involved in decisions pertaining to abortion.

"He believes that local political leaders should be making that choice," Fetterman said. "Not a woman between her and her doctor."

Fetterman on debate: 'It wasn't easy'

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