The Biden administration is campaigning heavily to get Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman into office by traveling, releasing videos and unequivocally defending his mental state.
On Friday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are slated to campaign at a reception for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party — a rare sight, since the two usually don’t travel together.
The president is then set to campaign for Fetterman again Nov. 5 alongside former President Barack Obama, Axios reported, citing “a Democrat with direct knowledge of the plans.”
Biden previously campaigned at an event for Fetterman on Oct. 20, telling the audience at the Philadelphia campaign reception that Senate Democrats “need 53 votes” and that they “need John badly.”
@POTUS arrives in Pittsburgh where he is met by Senate candidate John Fetterman (wearing a suit with long pants today) pic.twitter.com/RUslJl2wlQ
— Sebastian Smith (@SebastianAFP) October 20, 2022
Biden’s campaign messaging focused on his claims of what Republicans will do if they take back Congress, saying “a lot’s going to change” and that the GOP is “likely to not continue” funding Ukraine. He also reiterated his promise to codify Roe v. Wade into law if Democrats win both chambers of Congress. (RELATED: ‘Never Say Their Names’: Biden Claims 6 Republican Senators Secretly Agree With Him At Fetterman Event)
The race between Fetterman and Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz is particularly tight, with some polls indicating the two are nearly tied. The election could decide the fate of the current dead-locked Senate.
Beyond traveling to Pennsylvania in November, Obama released an ad for Fetterman claiming the election will influence America’s democracy and the right to abortion.
Fetterman and Oz had their first debate Tuesday, with the Democrat repeatedly stumbling over his words as some worry about the state of his mental health post-stroke. Eighteen percent of viewers thought Fetterman won the debate, compared to 82% who responded in favor of Oz, according to a WPXI poll. (RELATED: Less Than 20 Percent Of Audiences Thought Fetterman’s Debate Against Oz Was Successful: POLL)
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden believes Fetterman is “an incredibly bright and talented person who’s just as capable as always to carry out his office” and that it’s his decision to release his medical records or not.