Oz Pulls Ahead of Fetterman in Polling Conducted After Pennsylvania Debate

(Left) Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate John Fetterman addresses supporters during a rally at Norris Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 15, 2022. (Right) Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz hosts a safer streets community discussion in Philadelphia on Oct. 13, 2022. Mark Makela/Getty Images

Dr. Mehment Oz, Pennsylvania’s Republican candidate for Senate, holds a two-point lead over Democrat John Fetterman, according to a new poll.

According to the Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey, which was released Nov. 3, Oz leads Fetterman 48 to 46 percent among very likely voters, which is within the margin of error of 3 percentage points. The poll said 4 percent were still undecided.

The results marked a five-point swing toward Oz since September and the first time the Republican has led in Emerson College Polling and The Hill surveys.

Further, 54 percent of voters said they expected Oz to win the matchup, compared to 47 percent who said the same of Fetterman.

Conducted Oct. 28 to Oct. 31, the survey follows Fetterman’s questionable performance in last week’s debate, during which the lieutenant governor frequently stumbled over his words and left many viewers concerned as to his mental fitness for office.

Just days before the May primary, Fetterman suffered a stroke—a fact he acknowledged during the Oct. 25 debate.

“I had a stroke,” he noted. “He’s (Oz) never let me forget that, and I might miss some words during this debate … It knocked me down, but I’m going to keep coming back up.”

Later, when asked to explain his vacillating opinion on fracking, Fetterman replied: “I do support fracking. And I don’t, I don’t, I support fracking and I stand and I do support fracking.”

In another exchange, the Democrat was asked whether he would release his detailed medical records surrounding his stroke.

Skirting the question, he responded, “My doctor, Elle, believes that I’m fit to be serving, and that’s what I believe is where I’m standing.”

On Oct. 19, following calls for him to release his medical records, Fetterman released an Oct. 15 letter signed by Dr. Clifford Chen, who wrote that the candidate “is recovering well from his stroke” and “has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office.”

It was later revealed that Chen had made multiple donations to Fetterman’s campaign, raising questions over conflict of interest.

Overall, according to Thursday’s survey results, 50 percent of voters said that the Senate debate had worsened their opinion of Fetterman, while 44 percent said it had improved their opinion of Oz.

“Of those who say they have heard, seen, or read a lot about the debate, Oz leads Fetterman 55 percent to 41 percent,” noted Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling said. “Among those who have heard, seen, or read only a little or nothing about the debate, Fetterman leads 56 percent to 28 percent.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to both campaigns for comment.