OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Freshman Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s popularity in his home state of Pennsylvania is waning rapidly, according to a new survey that shows him nearly as unpopular as President Joe Biden.
Fetterman has frequently struggled to get through public events and Senate hearings, stumbling over words and appearing confused at times, all of which are aftereffects of a major stroke he suffered on the campaign trail in May 2022.
“According to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday, half of Keystone State voters disapprove of Fetterman’s job handling, while only 39% approve. President Biden, a Scranton native, has a worse approval rating in the state, with 57% of Pennsylvanians disapproving of his job handling as president, while 39% approve,” Fox News reported.
“Voters view Fetterman much worse than his fellow statewide Democrats, the poll shows. Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro garners a 57% job approval rating, while 23% disapprove. Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, meanwhile, also earns good marks from voters, with 44% approval and 32% who disapprove of the job he’s doing in office. The remaining percentages for each politician reflect individuals who did not offer an opinion,” the outlet reported further.
Fetterman has faced challenges during Senate hearings and public events since assuming office, with some perceiving his communication as incoherent due to the impact of his stroke-related injuries. His office has consistently criticized those who highlight the issues, maintaining that aside from auditory processing difficulties, he is functioning well.
The controversy surrounding Fetterman intensified when Jeff Stein, an economics reporter at The Washington Post, acknowledged in May that he had magnified a misquote provided by Fetterman’s office. In addition, Fox News Digital previously reported that Fetterman’s office has made discreet yet significant revisions to the transcribed versions of the senator’s comments on multiple occasions, apparently to enhance his coherence.
Fetterman made his return to Congress in mid-April after spending weeks at a DC-area hospital being treated for clinical depression, with video and photos of his appearance quickly went viral and led to new concerns from Republicans.
The Pennsylvania Democrat showed up in a black hoodie and shorts after six weeks of treatment, declining to answer any questions from the press as he entered the Capitol, which was one of the few visits since assuming office in January, Fox News reported at the time.
“It’s great to be back. Thank you,” he repeatedly said as he walked into the building.
Democrat Senator John Fetterman refuses to take questions as he returns to the Capitol for the first time since mid-February pic.twitter.com/JyTRQ1sIKe
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 17, 2023
Several conservatives responded to Fetterman’s arrival and appearance.
“Welcome back to John Fetterman, further proof that cognition, speech comprehension, emotional balance, and even showing up for work are no longer necessary for a career in Democrat politics!” Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk noted.
“How could anyone take the calls for @SenFeinstein to step down seriously when the DEMs spend more than a year excusing the deteriorating health of @JohnFetterman? If you supported Fetterman running for Senate or didn’t raise concerns about his health, please take several seats,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) added.
How could anyone take the calls for @SenFeinstein to step down seriously when the DEMs spend more than a year excusing the deteriorating health of @JohnFetterman?
If you supported Fetterman running for Senate or didn’t raise concerns about his health, please take several seats. pic.twitter.com/vBdOR8eyko
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) April 17, 2023
In February, his office announced that he had left the hospital after a two-day stay after the Pennsylvania Democrat suffered an episode of dizziness.
“A few minutes ago, Senator Fetterman was discharged from the hospital. In addition to the CT, CTA, and MRI tests ruling out a stroke, his EEG test results came back normal, with no evidence of seizures. John is looking forward to returning to the Senate,” his spokesman Joe Calvello said on Twitter.
