Update: U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman to hold Friday rally at Bayfront Convention Center

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a location for the Friday rally in Erie, and with a comment from Fetterman's opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat, will make Erie his first stop in his return to the campaign trail since suffering a stroke in May.

Fetterman's campaign announced that the 52-year-old progressive, who is battling TV personality and heart surgeon Mehmet Oz to replace Sen. Pat Toomey, will hold a 5:30 p.m. rally in Erie on Friday at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, which was announced on Fetterman's campaign website.

The Erie rally will be Fetterman's first since suffering a stroke on May 13. The race to replace Toomey, who is not seeking re-election, could decide control of the Senate. Fetterman has been leading Oz in the polls.

Fetterman made his first in-person appearance since his stroke at a Pennsylvania Democratic Party volunteer training event in Pittsburgh on July 9.

“Before the 2020 election, I said that if I could know one single fact about the results, I could tell you who was going to win Pennsylvania. Whoever wins Erie County will win Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said in a statement. “Erie County is Pennsylvania’s most important bellwether county. I’ve visited Erie dozens and dozens of times in the past, and I am honored and proud to be returning to the campaign trail here.”

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Erie County's importance in the Senate race

Oz has made multiple stops in Erie in recent weeks. On Wednesday, he spoke to a group of veterans in Wesleyville and on July 14 he addressed a group of farmers in North East.

Oz said Sunday that he has happy his opponent was back on the campaign trail.

"I'm over the moon, I really am," said Oz in an emailed statement. "It's hard to dance by yourself; it takes two to tango."

Oz also wants Fetterman to answer some questions about how he plans to help Pennsylvanians.

"I'd love to have him out there talking about what he wants to do to make Pennsylvania a better place," Oz said in the statement. "How are you going to deal with the pain that I'm hearing when I travel around Pennsylvania? What are you going to do about inflation, crime in our cities, or sanctuary cities? Help me understand how you're going to help parents deal with some of the issues that they're facing in schools. He's never answered these questions, and it's time he does."

Fetterman noted in the statement announcing his Erie rally that he received three times the votes in his Democratic primary than Oz garnered the GOP contest. Fetterman won the Democratic primary in Erie County with 80% of the vote.

"This is essentially the official relaunch of the campaign into the general election," Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Wertz said. "John Fetterman has always been a friend of Erie and has a deep base of support here in Erie County. In many ways, it makes a lot of sense to reboot this campaign right here among such heavy support.

"We've made many overtures and many requests and many proposals on events that might work for them and might tie in," he continued. "I had said to them a few months ago that when you're ready to get moving again Erie is your spot. We know how important not only the Senate race is, but the gubernatorial race as well. It makes sense to be here and to keep our folks energized."

Wertz said Fetterman has made more visits to Erie County than any other statewide candidate or elected official in Pennsylvania since he launched his first Senate bid in 2016.

More:Here are 5 ways John Fetterman can win the Senate race in Pennsylvania

More:Here are 5 ways Dr. Oz could win the Senate race in Pennsylvania

Fetterman last appeared at an Erie political event on May 11, when he and other Democratic candidates, including Attorney General Josh Shapiro — the party's nominee for governor — attended the Erie County Democratic Party's spring dinner. Wertz said Fetterman has vacationed at Presque Isle State Park with his family this summer. He also appeared at a fundraiser in Philadelphia recently, Wertz said.

"He has been active," Wertz said when asked if voters should be concerned about Fetterman's health. "He has been out there, but as far as campaign activity goes this is the first step, and it's going to be great to see him back here."

Fetterman, in his first interview since his stroke, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in July, that he has "nothing to hide" about his health. His stroke was the result of a clot in his heart caused by atrial fibrillation, a rapid or irregular heartbeat that causes poor blood flow. He told the Post-Gazette that he walks four to five miles a day, understands words properly, hasn't lost any memory and has no physical limitations.

Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNrink.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fetterman Erie rally to be held at Bayfront Convention Center