Fetterman: Do You Believe Anything?
Editor’s note: This was written at a time when the Fetterman campaign seemed to consist of little more than snarky ads about how many homes Oz owned. Since then, the campaign has started to focus more on contrasting Fetterman’s and Oz’s positions.
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When I read about Fetterman renting a plane to tow a banner making fun of Oz’s New Jersey home, I thought that was clever. And reinforcing it with a star of “Jersey Shore?” Yeah, cute. But then Soprano’s and E street band star Stevie van Zandt, with the same message? Uh, didn’t we do that already?
And now, after seeing the “crudité” ad a dozen times and the “Oz owns 10 houses” ad probably 50, I can’t be the only voter in the state wondering “Does he actually believe anything?”
What once was a witty campaign now runs the risk of becoming a huge liability. And some analyses suggest Fetterman’s lead might be narrowing.
Fetterman had the field to himself all summer to define Oz while Ozstumbled and bumbled. He could have made any point he wanted; there are plenty. Hang MAGA around his neck, one item at a time. Instead, he made his whole campaign; “he’s rich, he’s kina weird, he uses big words and he’s from new Jersey.”
And, as a candidate who suffered very publicly from a stroke, he has a vulnerability to charges of ill health that other statewide candidates don't. And now, predictably, the subtle (and not so subtle) insinuations. “Why won’t my opponent debate me? What is he hiding? Doesn’t he think Pennsylvania voters have a right to know where their candidates stand?” And statements questioning his “endurance.” Remember all those “Hillary is unwell” ads in 2016?
No campaign to speak of. No platform. No debates. And an ad campaign that is the moral equivalent of driving around the state in a pickup truck: I’m more authentic than he is.
And now, totally predictably,the Republican smear machine is training its artillery on Fetterman: he’s the dangerous radical who wants to release all those dangerous criminals from jail so they can rape your daughter.
John, you’re a great guy and, if you win, you’ll do fine as a senator. But right now, you’re running a terrible campaign. or a while, you were helped by the fact that Oz might’ve been running an even worse campaign. But if he continues with more hard-hitting ads, nothing special, just the usual GOP attack ads – soft on terrorism, anti-police, anti-gun, critical race theory – he could find his legs and you could be in trouble. We know he’s from New Jersey and we know he’s rich. Thanks. What else ya got?
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This series is written to promote political discussion and organizing. Permission is given to use this in fact sheets, talking points, letters to the editor, etc. We’d appreciate if you notified Gettysburg DFA (leonsreed@gmail.com) of any uses. Written by Leon Reed.