New Video Of John Fetterman Struggling During Speech Raises More Questions About His Fitness For Office

A video clip of remarks made during a Labor Day speech by Democrat John Fetterman, who is running for US Senate in Pennsylvania, has raised more questions about his fitness for office after his stroke earlier this year.

The clip comes as Fetterman stayed off the campaign trail for most of the summer following the stroke and has repeatedly dodged debates with his opponent, Republican Mehmet Oz.

“Send me to Washington, D.C., to send–, so I can work with Senator Casey,” Fetterman said during his speech on Monday. “And I can champion the union way of life–, in Jersey, excuse me in D.C. Thank you. Thank you very much. And it’s an honor–, I live eight minutes away from here. And when I leave tonight, I got three miles away, Dr. Oz in his mansion in New Jersey, you’ve got a friend and you have an ally. Send me to Washington, D.C.”

The video comes shortly after Fetterman’s hometown newspaper published an editorial questioning his “ability to serve” after he pulled out of a debate with his opponent, Mehmet Oz, citing his recovery from his stroke he suffered in May.

The editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said Fetterman’s refusal to debate and his “obvious struggles” with speech raises “legitimate concerns” about his health and fitness for office.

“If Mr. Fetterman is not well enough to debate his opponent, that raises serious concerns about his ability to serve as a United States senator,” the editorial board wrote. “Voters have a right to know whether their prospective senator can do the job—including handling the give-and-take of a vigorous debate.”