Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman struggled at times to explain his positions and spoke haltingly throughout a highly anticipated debate against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz as they vie for a critical Senate seat.
are huge: It represents Democrats' best chance to flip a Senate seat this year — and could determine party control of the chamber and the future of Biden's agenda.
Brooke Hatfield, a Maryland speech pathologist who has worked with stroke patients and also watched the debate, described Fetterman's speech errors as "common for people when they have a stroke." Fetterman delivered a blunt message to women: "If you believe that the choice for abortion belongs with you and your doctor, that’s what I fight for."
But even before the debate, Democrats in Washington were concerned about Fetterman’s campaign given the stakes.