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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre threw hopeful John Fetterman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate off the stage Wednesday after his painful performance in Tuesday night’s debate against Republican Dr. oz.
“The president found him to be an impressive, incredibly smart and talented person, who is just as capable, as always, to carry out his office and the duties of his office,” Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday afternoon’s press conference. .
Fetterman’s aftereffects from the stroke he suffered in May were fully visible during his hour-long showdown in Harrisburg with Oz, as he mutilated comments and missed words, with even some Democrats and liberal media figures voicing concern.
Jean-Pierre said she could not confirm whether or not Biden was watching it back and forth.
“So I was actually trying to get an answer for you, went to the Oval, but the president has had a very busy morning, as you all know, with the Israeli president he’s receiving and who was in town. So I have not been able to get an answer to that, if he was able to watch the debate last night,” said the press secretary.
Biden had back-to-back events on Wednesday — an announcement about “junk fees” and meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and US military leaders — but Fetterman’s questionable performance dominated the political news.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre threw kudos to Democratic Senate hopeful John Fetterman on Wednesday after his painful performance in Tuesday night’s debate against Republican Dr. oz.
Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman’s aftermath of the stroke he suffered in May was widely seen during his hour-long showdown in Harrisburg with Oz, as he mutilated answers and missed words, with even some Democrats and liberal media figures voicing concern.
The press secretary could not say whether President Joe Biden was watching the debate, telling reporters in the press conference, “The president has had a very busy morning.” Biden is imprisoned Wednesday afternoon during a meeting with military leaders
“I’ll say this, the president looks forward to working with the lieutenant governor when he’s in the Senate,” Jean-Pierre continued. “I could also say that, you know, in his conversations he’s had with Lieutenant Governor Fetterman, he finds the Lieutenant Governor to be a strong and authentic middle-class advocate.”
“And as you know, he’s traveled to Pennsylvania a lot and they’ve had events together and he’s looking forward to working again, to continue working with him,” she added.
Jean-Pierre said it was up to the Senate hopeful — locked in one of the tightest races that could determine whether Democrats keep the Senate — to release his full medical record.
“I’ve been asked this question and I’ll leave it to the Lieutenant Governor to make that decision,” she replied.
She was also pressed on whether Biden had any concerns about Fetterman’s health.
Biden, she said, “respects the courage and the honesty” that he sees from the lieutenant governor, whom he has experienced in their conversations and their relationship over time.”
During the debate and campaign stops, Fetterman has addressed the “elephant in the room,” his stroke, leaving him with “auditory processing” issues.
To get through the debate last night, he used captioning technology.
A reporter asked Jean-Pierre if it was “an important moment to welcome people with disabilities into the public sphere.”
During the debate, Fetterman twice refused to release a full medical record.
He previously bowed to pressure and released a second doctor’s note, stating that he was fit to serve.
“And, of course, in regards to your question about his health – we’ve seen the same comments from independent medical experts that you’ve all noted and that the improving symptoms he has are related to speech and hearing, not cognitive function at all, ‘ said Jean Pierre.
She also objected when asked whether the president believes Democrats will still be able to hold the Senate after Fetterman’s rocky debate, a rosy picture Biden painted just days earlier.
“I mean, look, I’m not going into analysis here,” she replied. “There are people who are political experts who will obviously do that every day for the next two weeks, or less than two weeks.”
Biden has largely stayed off the campaign trail compared to his predecessors, but Pennsylvania was the exception.
He plans to raise money with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on Friday.
Axios also reported this week that Biden will join forces with former President Barack Obama for a swing in Pennsylvania on Nov. 5 to help Fetterman and hopeful Governor Josh Shapiro in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Former President Donald Trump saw Pennsylvania as a key battleground and also announced a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on Nov. 5 on Wednesday, as he backs both Governor of Oz and GOP Governor Doug Mastriano since the GOP’s Pennsylvania primary.