The Archive

THE KEYSTONE STATE

Oz, Fetterman face off in only debate of the cycle

Republican Mehmet Oz and Democrat John Fetterman faced off in the only debate of the Pennsylvania Senate race Tuesday night, just two weeks before the tight election in the Keystone State.

Fetterman, still recovering from a stroke, was shaky – at best. His answers were often halting or disjointed. The closed-captioning system used by Fetterman, which Republicans made a fuss about before the debate, didn’t really distract from the events. Fetterman, however, ducked questions about whether he should provide more information on his health status.

There were a few solid moments for the lieutenant governor, but overall, his performance was predictably rocky. This isn’t a surprise given the severity of his stroke. Fetterman’s campaign attempted to lower expectations prior to the debate. It’s miraculous in some way that Fetterman could even do this event. Yet it may have been better for Fetterman – a gifted retail pol prior to his health problems – to skip the debate.

Oz was smooth, as you’d expect from a TV personality. Yet he also relied heavily on talking points. He sometimes rushed to get it all in during the fast-moving format.

A few takeaways:

But the Fetterman campaign jumped all over Oz’s full answer to this question. They’re already putting an ad together to highlight it:

The “local political leaders” is what Fetterman’s camp has seized upon. They’re using it to tie Oz to Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano. As a state senator, Mastriano has offered a “fetal heartbeat” bill that would ban abortions without exception from as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Mastriano also suggested women who violate the ban should be charged with murder.

“I do support fracking. And I don’t, I don’t — I support fracking and I stand, and I do support fracking,” Fetterman said.

David Axelrod, the political adviser, said this:

The Coverage:

– Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan

THE MONEY GAME

Inside Jim Banks’ super PAC

We told you we were going to keep a close eye on the American Leadership PAC, a super PAC linked to Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.). Banks is running for GOP whip if Republicans take the House as expected on Election Day. Under federal law, Banks must keep an arms length from this entity because it raises money in unlimited sums.

But we wanted to take stock of how the PAC, run by Trump-World hand Andy Surabian, is spending its money.

FEC records show that the super PAC has spent roughly $327,000 on text messages and direct mail on behalf of Banks’ Indiana colleagues, five of whom are in safe GOP districts. Beneficiaries of the super PAC’s largesse include the candidacies of Indiana Reps. Larry Bucshon, Victoria Spartz, Jim Baird and Greg Pence as well as GOP candidate Rudy Yakym. Yakym is running for the safe GOP seat left open by the tragic death of the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.).

American Leadership PAC has spent $190,518 in other districts labeled “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. The three Republicans that have benefited include Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and candidates Nick LaLota of New York and Eli Crane of Arizona.

The PAC has spent $411,657 in tossup districts. It’s trying to boost Brandon Williams in New York, Madison Gesiotti Gilbert in Ohio, Bo Hines in North Carolina, Jennifer-Ruth Green in Indiana, Barbara Kirkmeyer in Colorado, Jim Bognet in Pennsylvania and Reps. Mike Garcia (Calif.) and Yvette Herrell (N.M.).

The super PAC will layer in roughly $1 million more in digital ads in the toss up and lean Republican districts in the coming days.

Let’s be real here: This super PAC was created to show that Banks can generate real money and benefit fellow Republicans. Fundraising has never been Banks’ strong suit and this is an effort to beat back on the narrative that he doesn’t help his colleagues. Many of these races are multi-million dollar efforts, so October spending on text messages and direct mail won’t have a huge impact.

The PAC will spend more money – no doubt about that. But this is all part of Banks’ leadership race.

– Jake Sherman

THE CAMPAIGN

“I’m running for Senate to put more money in your pocket,” Barnes says in the ad. “Ron Johnson’s had 12 years to make things better. But costs are still rising and all he’s managed to do is write a tax cut for himself.”

Barnes is trailing Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) by 2.6 points, according to the FiveThirtyEight polling average of the race.

The ad implores Pennsylvanians to vote Democratic to “fight fascism and preserve our hard-fought liberties.” The spot will play on digital platforms like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.

— Max Cohen and Jake Sherman

MOMENTS

9 a.m.: President Joe Biden will get his daily intelligence briefing.

10:30 a.m.: Biden will speak about “new actions to provide families with more breathing room.”

12:45 p.m.: Biden will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer invited Herzog to deliver a speech to a joint session of Congress this year.

2 p.m.: Karine Jean-Pierre will brief reporters.

3 p.m.: Biden will meet with Defense Department leaders.

7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Biden will participate in virtual receptions for Reps. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), Cindy Axne (D-Iowa) and members of the Nevada delegation.

Vice President Kamala Harris is in Seattle. At 1:20 p.m., she will speak at Lumen Field about the administration’s investment in clean school buses with EPA Administrator Michael Regan. She’ll also speak at a fundraiser for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) before leaving for D.C.

First Lady Jill Biden will speak at fundraisers for Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee, the Rhode Island Democratic Party and House candidate Seth Magaziner.

CLIP FILE

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