Democrat John Fetterman has announced he will debate Republican challenger Mehmet Oz ahead of the upcoming Pennsylvania Senate race between the two — though the date of the debate is unclear. Fetterman’s commitment to a debate came during an interview with Politico in which Fetterman, the current lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, said he would “definitely discuss Dr. Oz.” “We’re definitely going to discuss Dr. Oz, and that’s really always been our intention to do that,” Fetterman said. “It was just about just addressing some of the persistent issues of stroke, auditory processing, and we’re going to be able to solve that.” While it’s unclear which debate Fetterman will participate in, he said it will air on a “major television station” in the state and take place “sometime in mid-to-late October.” Dr. OZ DOUBLES IN PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RACE, SAYS FETERMAN IS AFRAID TO TALK OR LIES ABOUT HEALTH Democrat John Fetterman told Politico on Wednesday that he will debate Dr. Oz, his GOP challenger in the Pennsylvania Senate race, sometime in October. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) After Fetterman committed to engaging Oz in a debate, Brittany Yanick, communications director for Oz’s Senate campaign, released a statement claiming that Fetterman had agreed to a “CONFIDENTIAL DEBATE.” “BIG NEWS! John Fetterman has agreed to debate in a SECRET DEBATE. We don’t know WHERE. We don’t know WHEN. We don’t know HOW. It’s a big SECRET,” Yanick said. “John Fetterman’s campaign is embarrassing themselves,” Yannick added. “Let’s be clear – Dr. Oz’s campaign will not agree to a SECRET debate. It has to be REAL with REAL reporters asking REAL questions. Sorry John – imaginary debates don’t count!” FETTERMAN SAYS DEBATE IS ‘IMPORTANT PART’ OF DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY Fetterman’s announcement that he will participate in a debate with the GOP challenger in the race comes after he declined to participate in a debate in the first week of September, which Oz’s campaign said was evidence that he was either not healthy enough to debate , or he is afraid to defend his policies. Oz’s group said Fetterman’s refusal to debate “insults” the intelligence of Pennsylvania voters. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat, speaks during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Last week, after Fetterman declined an invitation to a debate in September and claimed he was “willing” to put his record against Dr. Oz, Yannick questioned when he would be ready to talk. “We heard John Fetterman won’t be talking to Oz the ‘first week of September.’ OK, when will he talk? He will never say – not even in his last whimpered statement,” Yanick said. “John Fetterman’s campaign insults the intelligence of Pennsylvania voters.” Dr. OZ DOUBLES IN PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RACE, SAYS FETERMAN IS AFRAID TO TALK OR LIES ABOUT HEALTH Oz took aim at Fetterman for refusing to debate during a recent Fox News Digital interview, saying he was either afraid to take his views to voters or unable to debate due to ill health following his stroke. “John Fetterman has ducked, avoiding these discussions, which is offensive to the voters of Pennsylvania,” Oz told Fox News Digital. “And he must have his reasons for wanting to avoid a conversation with me. Either he is healthy, as he says he is, and does not want to answer for his radical positions in his previous statements, or he is lying about his health. “ Pennsylvania US Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz, speaks during a Republican Leadership Forum at the Newtown Athletic Club on May 11, 2022 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) “Either way, the voters of Pennsylvania deserve an answer, and I think they deserve that answer pretty quickly, since absentee ballots will be in the mail in the next two to three weeks,” Oz added. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In February, Fetterman said in a tweet that the debates were an “important part” of the Democratic Senate primary. “Debates are an important part of this primary,” Fetterman tweeted in February, ahead of the Democratic primary for the Senate seat. “We believe voters deserve no fewer than three televised network debates — including all the candidates on the ballot — before the big media buys across PA.” Fox News’ Thomas Phippen contributed to this report. Kyle Morris covers politics for Fox News. On Twitter: @RealKyleMorris.
