Actually, John Fetterman’s Debate Performance Was Fine

Pennsylvania has one of the most contentious Senate races in the country this term, and on Tuesday night, during the one and only debate between candidates, eyes were on Democrat John Fetterman, who had a stroke in May just days before his party’s primary. After taking three months off to recover, Fetterman returned to the campaign trail, and the debate was one of the highest profile appearances he’s had since.

It did not go particularly well for the Democrat: 53-year-old Fetterman struggled to communicate while facing off his Republican challenger Mehmet Oz, missing words, repeating himself, and pausing to collect his thoughts throughout the debate. In the aftermath, members of the media and Republicans alike have expressed doubts about his health and questioned why he agreed to a debate in the first place.

The Fetterman team tried to set expectations low before the debate, framing their candidate as someone who has never been a natural debater, and emphasizing that he is still in recovery mode. In a memo sent to journalists ahead of the big event, they admitted debates were not, “John’s format,” and, “if we’re all being honest, Oz clearly comes into Tuesday night with a huge built-in advantage.” Fetterman’s doctors, however, have repeatedly said he is capable of taking on the full workload that would be required of him in public office.