In many ways, the future of America hinges on the outcomes of the 2022 Midterm elections.
If Republicans can secure a majority in the Senate, it will limit the damage President Joe Biden can do in the remaining two years of his term, could stop disastrous bills and judicial appointments, and would send Chuck Schumer back to the minority.
Now one health scare is giving Schumer some serious heartburn over his political future.
Democrats were blindsided
A few weeks ago, current Pennsylvania Lt. Governor and Democrat Senate nominee John Fetterman suffered a stroke right before his primary contest.
Fetterman has recently said he came close to dying in the scare.
He says he’s ignored cardiovascular problems with his health that led to a stroke.
Since then, Fetterman has remained absent from the campaign trail.
His only appearances since the stroke have been recorded videos and his wife speaking on his behalf.
Pennsylvania Democrats are starting to fret.
They’re now reviewing Keystone State law on candidate replacement – with the August deadline for nominee replacement quickly approaching.
“I think people I’ve talked to — myself included — don’t know what to make of it,” said a veteran Pennsylvania Democratic strategist who requested anonymity to speak candidly about a sensitive subject. “It’s not like Fetterman has close institutional allies, so Dems are calling around wanting to ask the question, but no clue where to get a sense of how serious it is.”
The State Party is also urging the Fetterman camp to be fully transparent about his current medical condition.
Can Fetterman come back?
To try and quiet the storm of questions surrounding him, Fetterman just issued a written statement about his health, but it can’t be what Democrats wanted to hear.
“It will take some more time to get back on the campaign trail like I was in the lead-up to the primary,” Fetterman said. “It’s frustrating – all the more so because this is my own fault – but bear with me, I need a little more time. I’m not quite back to 100% yet, but I’m getting closer every day.”
Fetterman’s cardiologist says his condition is “stable,” – adding the Senate candidate has a pacemaker-defibrillator.
“The prognosis I can give for John’s heart is this: if he takes his medications, eats healthy, and exercises, he’ll be fine,” the doctor said.
However, those are big IFs, as Fetterman hasn’t followed the doctor’s orders in the past.
“Back in 2017, I had swollen feet and went to the hospital to get checked out,” Fetterman’s statement read. “That’s when I learned I had a heart condition. Then, I didn’t follow up. I thought losing weight and exercising would be enough. Of course, it wasn’t. I want to emphasize that this was completely preventable. My cardiologist said that if I had continued taking the blood thinners, I never would have had a stroke. I didn’t do what the doctor told me.”
A big showdown is brewing in the Keystone State
If he stays healthy and the state party doesn’t replace him before the August deadline, Fetterman will face Republican nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The Donald Trump-endorsed Dr. Oz was recently declared the winner of the razor thin GOP Pennsylvania U.S. Senate primary.
David McCormick recently conceded the race when he finally realized the recount he requested wasn’t going to garner him enough votes to surpass Oz.
