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Hours before the midterms, all eyes are on Pennsylvania. The race between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz is the most important for Democrats if they want to have a chance to retain the Senate. In case the importance of the race was not clear, the “Keystone State” featured the simultaneous presence of two former presidents and a sitting president.
Last Saturday, November 5, will surely go down in electoral history, after Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Donald Trump led campaign rallies just miles apart.
Democrats took part in a rally in Philadelphia, where they boosted the candidacies of Fetterman and Shapiro. While both are Democrats and are seeking the support of Pennsylvania voters, their situations could not be more different.
While Shapiro enjoys a double-digit lead in his race, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average, the incumbent lieutenant governor trails the Republican for the first time since polling began. This scenario is repeated across the aisle, with Oz leading in the Senate race and Mastriano running well behind.
“This crowd is so loud, I think they can hear us in Latrobe,” Biden bragged, referring to Trump’s event.
Of course, the current president was accompanied by Barack Obama, the Democrats’ ace under the sleeve in the run-up to the midterms.
“Pennsylvania, you have to choose between politicians who seem willing to say anything and do anything to get power, and people who see you, care about you and share your values,” Obama said.
A few miles to the west, Donald Trump appeared with the “God Bless America” curtain, which is almost ubiquitous at his rallies. While the former president again flirted with the idea of running again in 2024, he made it clear that the event was about supporting candidates. “But you know what? I’m serious: I want the focus tonight to be on Dr. Oz and Doug Mastriano,” he indicated.
“There’s nothing good to say about what’s going on in our country, but on Tuesday night, I think there will be incredible things to say,” Trump added unleashing a round of applause from those in attendance.
Pennsylvania’s importance in the 2022 midterms
Pennsylvania is set to be the state that tips the balance of power in the Senate (and possibly Congress), either to one side or the other. The Republican Party is on track to reclaim the majority in the House, which they last held at the beginning of 2019.
Therefore, the only thing standing between the GOP and the control of both Houses is the Senate. To achieve it, they will need to retain all of their vulnerable seats in these midterms, Pennsylvania included, and flip, at least one between Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and New Hampshire.
Joaquín Núñez es licenciado en comunicación periodística por la Universidad Católica Argentina. Se especializa en el escenario internacional y en la política nacional norteamericana. Confeso hincha de Racing Club de Avellaneda. Contacto: [email protected] // Joaquín Núñez has a degree in journalistic communication from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He specializes in the international scene and national American politics. Confessed fan of Racing Club of Avellaneda. Contact: [email protected]