In a closely watched Senate race that is likely to play a key role in determining whether Democrats or Republicans control the upper chamber, former Dr Mehmet Oz and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman exchanged blows on October 25 during their only debate prior to next month’s US midterm elections. In a one-hour televised debate that was viewed as a crucial test for both candidates in a race that has grown more competitive recently, Oz and Fetterman debated on issues ranging from abortion to crime to fracking.

On abortion, the candidates’ positions diverged significantly. Fetterman stated that he would fight to restore the federal right to abortion established by Roe vs Wade. The 1973 Roe vs Wade decision established a constitutional right to abortion before being overturned by the Supreme Court this summer. Fetterman only stated that he agreed with Roe vs Wade and made no mention of other abortion-related restrictions.

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When asked if he would support a proposal from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham for a federal ban at 15 weeks of pregnancy, Oz did not directly respond. He focused on his position that abortion regulation should be left to the states rather than the federal government. Oz did not completely explain his stance on legalized abortion, which, according to his campaign, should be illegal unless the mother’s life is in danger, there has been rape, there has been incest, or there is a medical emergency.

Oz accused Fetterman of being too lenient on criminals

Further, Oz accused Fetterman of being too lenient on criminals, a motif that he and other Republican groups have emphasized in recent weeks. His remark referred to Fetterman’s role in state government as head of the Board of Pardons, where he has advocated for an increase in the number of pardons. Fetterman responded by saying that he ran for mayor of Braddock, a small town near Pittsburgh, in 2005 because he was troubled by gun violence. He said, “And working with the police and working with our community, I would say I was able to stop gun violence for five-and-a-half years as mayor. I’m the only person on this stage right now that is successful about pushing back against gun violence.”

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Given that Oz had relocated to Pennsylvania from his previous residence in New Jersey around the time he declared his candidacy, Fetterman argued that Oz lacks an understanding of the economic difficulties Pennsylvanians face. Oz later responded that he had travelled across the state and heard about its residents’ problems.

A series of recent polls show Fetterman with a two-point lead, within the margins of error of the polls. The winner will take over for retiring Republican Senator Pat Toomey. Several races across the nation, including the one in Pennsylvania, are considered to be truly “toss-ups” as of November 8, election day. For a very long time, Pennsylvania has been regarded as a key swing state and a barometer of the general mood of the country. In the state’s 2020 presidential vote, Joe Biden narrowly defeated Donald Trump by just over one point.