Fetterman, Oz Can Unravel Each Other By Leaning on These Issues

Experts weighed in on the issues Pennsylvania Senate candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz should emphasize to unravel their opponent in their only debate Tuesday night.

Pennsylvania, a battleground state that narrowly backed President Joe Biden in 2020, is home to one of the closest, and most-watched, midterm Senate races—one that could determine which party controls Congress' upper chamber. Democrats have nominated Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, while the GOP selected celebrity surgeon Mehmet Oz after contentious primaries on both sides.

Polling indicates they're facing a tight race, with Oz narrowing Fetterman's once-comfortable lead with only two weeks until Election Day.

During their only debate, the two candidates are expected to spar on topics that defined the midterms, including the economy, abortion rights and crime. Experts told Newsweek what they believe the candidates should focus on ahead of the debate.

Fetterman Should Emphasize Abortion, Competence

J. Wesley Leckrone, the associate dean of social sciences at Widener University, told Newsweek Fetterman should have two goals in the debate—to prove his competence after suffering a stroke in May and rallying his base. Questions remain about whether side effects caused by the stroke could affect his ability in the Senate, though Oz has faced backlash for attacks on his health.

"He needs to prove that he's medically capable of doing the job. More so than him getting on top of Oz, he wins this debate if he can show he's competent and the stroke doesn't have side effects," Leckrone said.

Leckrone also said Fetterman should push Oz on abortion—which emerged as a key midterms issue after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the case that guaranteed abortion rights across the country. When pressed on the issue, Oz should soften his stance, expressing empathy for women, as his position is more conservative than many swing voters, he said.

Neil Makhija, a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, said Fetterman should focus on his experience working with small towns across Pennsylvania, including his time serving as the mayor of Braddock. He said Fetterman's strength is his authenticity.

"I think for him to emphasize his tie and his commitment to Braddock and small towns in Pennsylvania that he's gotten to know as lieutenant governor and as he's traveled around will play to his strengths," he said.

Crime Could Be Winning Issue for Oz

Oz, meanwhile, should call attention to Fetterman's record on crime, as that is a major issue for swing voters in Philadelphia's suburbs, Leckrone said. Throughout the campaign, Fetterman has faced scrutiny for his stance on crime, which Republicans attack as "soft." Leckrone suggested Oz could bring up Fetterman's time on the state's Board of Pardons.

"If he can somehow press Fetterman on crime, and make him look a little bit too soft on crime, that will be helpful for him," he said.

He said Fetterman could defend his record as helping to "get people out of the cycle of crime."

Makhija said Oz needs to convey to voters that he is not out of touch with their everyday reality, as he believes Oz has struggled to connect with voters. Fetterman's summer lead came through a series of attacks against Oz, focusing on his New Jersey residence and wealth.

"I think people perceive that he's—one—not even from Pennsylvania and—two—doesn't understand the lives of everyday Pennsylvanians," Makhija said.

Ray Zaborney, a GOP strategist with Red Maverick Media, told Newsweek Oz should use his television skills to connect with voters.

"Dr. Oz needs to let people see the Dr. Oz they remember pre-politics—confident, smooth, and someone who has the bedside manner folks are looking for in these unsure economic times. Keeping Fetterman on the defensive on crime and the economy without coming off mean," he wrote in a statement.

What Polls Say About Pennsylvania's Senate Race

Throughout the summer, Fetterman, who painted Oz as being out of touch with average Pennsylvania voters, held a decent lead against the GOP candidate despite Biden's floundering approval ratings. But that lead has dwindled in the weeks leading up to the election, with both candidates now having a shot at victory, polls find.

A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted among 1,084 likely voters from October 21 to 24 found Fetterman with a 2-point lead against Oz. The poll found Fetterman winning 51 percent of the vote compared to Oz's 49 percent, and it had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. It found voters wanted the candidates to discuss the economy, crime, gas prices and abortion policy.

Fetterman leads Oz by 2.3 percentage points in FiveThirtyEight's aggregate of recent polling. That lead has dropped since September 15, when Fetterman led by an average of more than 10 percentage points.