Midterm elections 2022 – live: Fetterman trails in Pennsylvania as polls look bleak for Democrats

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was captured on a hot mic telling President Joe Biden that John Fetterman’s performance in the Pennslyvania Senate debate “didn’t hurt us too much”.

However, a new poll shows Mr Fetterman now trailing Republican opponent Mehmet Oz in a new poll released after the pair’s sole debate earlier this week.

Mr Fetterman since has addressed the impact that the stroke he suffered this year had on his performance at this week’s debate with Dr Oz, an event where he appeared to struggle at times when answering questions from the moderators.

“Knew it wasn’t going to be easy after having a stroke after five months,” he told a crowd in Pittsburgh. “In fact, I don’t think it has ever been done before in American political history actually. You know, after that stroke, I got knocked down, but I got back up.”

Follow the latest news on the 2022 midterms below

Key points

• Schumer: Pennsylvania debate didn’t hurt too much, picking up steam in Nevada

• Top takeaways from John Fetterman and Dr Oz midterm face-off

• Woman emotionally describes Herschel Walker driving her to have an abortion

• New poll: Undecided voters flocking to GOP

• Early voting numbers offer a glimmer of hope for Democrats in midterms

Dr Oz taking the lead against John Fetterman in Pennsylvania Senate race, poll says

22:46 , Oliver O'Connell

The first poll conducted after the sole debate for Pennsylvania’s Senate seat shows Republican Mehmet Oz with his first lead against Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman.

InsiderAdvantage surveyed 750 likely voters on 26 October, the day after the debate between the former television host and physician and Mr Fetterman. The poll has a 3.58 margin of error.

Eric Garcia has the details.

New poll shows Dr Oz takes lead against John Fetterman in Pennsylvania Senate race

Scientific study: Americans die younger in states run by conservatives

22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Americans are dying younger in states run by conservatives compared to those governed by liberals, scientists from several universities have found.

The authors of a new study write that “simulations indicate that changing all policy domains in all states to a fully liberal orientation might have saved 171,030 lives in 2019, while changing them to a fully conservative orientation might have cost 217,635 lives”.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Scientists say Americans die younger in states run by conservatives

Biden: GOP hoping for recession

21:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Highlighting the economic achievements of his administration, President Joe Biden told a crowd in Syracuse that the country lost over 180,000 manufacturing jobs under his predecessor after a string of broken promises in states including Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio.

He added that even though his Republican friends in Congress appear to be hoping for a recession, the economy is actually growing.

Mr Biden closed out his comments by saying he had never been more optimistic.

Lindsey Graham called ‘ignorant as hell’ by Whoopi Goldberg over Herschel Walker race comments

21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Whoopi Goldberg said Senator Lindsey Graham was “ignorant as hell” for saying the fact that Georgia candidate Herschel Walker was Black proved that the Republican party was not racist.

Josh Marcus reports on The View host’s reaction to the South Carolina senator’s statement.

Whoopi Goldberg calls Graham ‘ignorant as hell’ over racism comments

DeSantis called out for reaction to woman who passed out at press conference

21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ press conference was interrupted when a woman in the crowd passed out. Other attendees rushed to her aid, and Mr DeSantis approached the group to see what happened.

Here’s what happened next:

Ron DeSantis called out for reaction to woman who passed out at his press briefing

New poll: Undecided voters flocking to GOP

21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A new poll for USA Today/Suffolk University shows undecided voters are flocking toward GOP candidates as the midterm campaign enters its final stretch.

On a generic ballot of parties but not individual candidates, those surveyed now support the Republican congressional candidate over the Democratic one by 49 per cent to 45 per cent, a turnaround since the group’s last poll in July when Democrats led 44 per cent to 40 per cent.

USA Today also reports:

• The abortion issue resonates more strongly with women than men, and it is contributing to an enormous gender gap among independent voters.

• Independent women favor the Democratic candidate by 11 points, 51 per cent tp 40 per cent. Independent men support the Republican candidate by 22 points, 57 per cent to 35 per cent.

• President Biden’s job rating has improved since July, though it remains anemic. Now 44 per cent approve of the job he’s doing as president; 53 per cent disapprove. In July, it was 39 per cent to 56 per cent.

Election denier Kari Lake to hold ‘emergency’ press conference

20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Election denier Kari Lake is scheduled to hold an “emergency” press conference as she makes a final push for the Arizona governorship.

In a “media advisory” the Lake campaign said that the press briefing would start at 3.30pm local time.

More details to follow.

Election denier Kari Lake to hold ‘emergency’ press conference

GOP gubernatorial candidate wants to impose statewide gay marriage ban

20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

South Carolina Gov Henry McMaster said at a debate Wednesday night that he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman and would enforce a ban on gay marraige should the US Supreme Court overturn the ruling that legalised gay marriage across the country in 2015.

Abe Asher reports.

Republican governor candidate says he wants to impose a statewide ban on gay marriage

Schumer: Pennsylvania debate didn’t hurt too much, picking up steam in Nevada

20:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Jill Biden to campaign for New York Democrats

20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

First Lady Jill Biden will campaign for New York Democrats this Sunday as midterm election campaigns enter their final stretch.

On Sunday, Ms Biden will attend political events with Rep Sean Patrick Maloney in Mount Kisco and Robert Zimmerman, who is running for Congress on Long Island.

Later she will be at events organised by the New York State Democratic Party, and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee in New York City.

Cheney crosses party lines and endorses Michigan Democrat

19:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming crossed party lines and announced her endorsement of Democratic Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan on Thursday.

The move is a change for Ms Cheney, the daughter of Republican former vice president Dick Cheney, and a former member of House Republican leadership who has since become a vocal critic of former president Donald Trump and her own party.

Eric Garcia reports.

Liz Cheney crosses party lines and endorses Democrat Elissa Slotkin in Michigan

Biden to campaign in New Mexico

19:41 , Oliver O'Connell

On Thursday, 3 November, President Joe Biden will travel to New Mexico for campaign events with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state and local officials.

The White House says more details will follow.

Trump to hold Florida rally but snubs DeSantis

19:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump will host a rally in his new chosen home state of Florida just two days before Election Day, and a key absence is already raising eyebrows in the GOP and national press.

Typically, when a former president holds a campaign rally in an election year, their attendance is the big story of the day. But when Donald Trump’s Save America PAC announced his plans to host the rally in the backyard of rising GOP star Ron DeSantis without the governor in attendance, the potential snub became the headline.

John Bowden has the latest.

Trump snubs DeSantis by announcing rally in Florida without governor

Mark Ruffalo invokes his own brain tumour to back John Fetterman

19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Actor Mark Ruffalo is drawing on his own personal experience to voice his support for John Fetterman in the Pennsylvania Senate race.

Mark Ruffalo invokes his own brain tumour to back John Fetterman

Whoopi Goldberg hits back at Lindsey Graham over Herschel Walker remarks

18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has drawn umbrage this week with his suggestion that allegations Herschel Walker pressured former partners into getting abortions are not only fabricated, but are being levelled by a cabal of senior liberal out of fear that the sight of a Black Republican succeeding will attract young people of colour to the party.

This remark has not gone down well. Here’s a take from The View’s Whoopi Goldberg:

Biden hails ‘great' economic news

18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

“Great economic report, GDP report. Things are looking good!” he said to reporters as he departed the White House.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the latest GDP data.

Biden says US economy ‘continues to power forward’ after growth in third quarter

Utah: Mike Lee declines to debate Evan McMullin on Fox News

17:55 , Andrew Naughtie

Utah Senator Mike Lee, who infamously said Donald Trump deserved “a mulligan” over the January 6 riot, is facing an unexpectedly tough challenge from independent candidate Evan McMullin, whom Democrats have allowed a clear run at the seat. The two men held a debate recently, one at which Mr Lee sometimes appeared flustered – and it seems it may be their last public encounter of the campaign...

The most searched midterm topics in every state

16:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Google Trends has ranked the most-searched-for issues ahead of the crucial midterm elections. The search giant based its results on several topics – wages, social security, healthcare, unemployment, abortion, inflation, and the war in Ukraine.

The data reveals what voters have been searching for most over the course of the last week. As of Thursday morning, wages is the top topic in most US states, but with some exceptions. Other issues often seen near the top in the rankings of search interest are social security and healthcare.

Gustaf Kilander takes a look:

These are the most searched midterm elections topics in every state

Democrats drop new Senate moneybomb

16:15 , Andrew Naughtie

With the election cycle in its final stretch and early voting already well underway in various states, the Democrats – increasingly worried by narrow polling in crucial states – are pumping new money into the races that will likely determine who takes control of the Senate in January:

Obama cuts rare campaign ad as Pennsylvania Senate polls tighten

15:40 , Andrew Naughtie

Barack Obama has kept a relatively low profile by the standards of former presidents (not least his successor), but he has lately begun to enter the fray as the midterm cycle approaches its end. His latest contribution is an ad directed at voters in Pennsylvania, where Senate candidate John Fetterman is struggling to recoup the polling lead he held for much of the summer:

Watch: John Fetterman describes difficulty of debating after stroke

15:15 , Andrew Naughtie

The sight of him sometimes struggling to speak on the debate stage on Tuesday night has thrown John Fetterman’s campaign into difficult territory – something the candidate himself addressed at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh yesterday:

Kari Lake claims opponent staged office break-in

14:45 , Andrew Naughtie

The Democratic candidate for governor of Arizona, Katie Hobbs, this week saw her office broken into – but according to her opponent, extreme Trumpist Kari Lake, the accusation has a whiff of a false report:

Ms Lake has become one of the most ardent and visible proponents of Donald Trump’s “big lie” about the 2020 election anywhere on this year’s midterm slate, and her relentless focus on the conspiracy theories surrounding that vote have made her one of the former president’s favourite candidates. Here’s a deep dive from Andrew Buncombe.

The seemingly unstoppable rise of election denier Kari Lake

SC governor comes out against gay marriage in debate

14:15 , Andrew Naughtie

The Republican governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, took part in an election debate last night, in the course of which he was asked about the prospect that the US Supreme Court might overturn the Obergefell decision that required all states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The conservative governor was untroubled by the possibility of repeal – and said in fact that at the state level, gay marriage should be illegal.

Mr McMaster is not expected to have any trouble winning re-election in his solidly Republican state. What polling has been done shows him holding a lead of between 6 and 11 points.

Mark Ruffalo praises John Fetterman’s “guts and heart” after stroke

13:45 , Andrew Naughtie

As the controversy over John Fetterman’s stroke rumbles on, actor Mark Ruffalo has offered his support to the candidate on Twitter – referencing his own experience of cognitive issues caused by a brain tumor:

Pennsylvania Senate race tightens up

13:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Pennsylvania’s Senate race has been perhaps the most bizarre one in a crowd of absurd campaigns. What should have been a relatively sleepy race where Republicans attempt to hold a Senate seat has instead turned into an intensely personal race with two outsized personalities.

Pennsylvania’s Senate race: Republicans try to protect a seat Democrats hope to flip

Ohio elections chief warns precincts can’t take absentee ballots

12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ohio law does not permit voters to return absentee ballots at their precincts on Election Day, the state’s elections chief is cautioning amid a misinformation campaign around the security of voting machines that’s urging them to do so.

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose said those voters who heed advice from a prominent national group of Republican election deniers and hold onto their paper ballots until 8 November must deliver them to their county board of elections office. Poll workers at precinct-level voting locations cannot accept them, he said.

Ohio elections chief: Precincts can't take absentee ballots

Lindsey Graham on Herschel Walker accusers’ abortion “lies”

12:15 , Andrew Naughtie

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who recently proposed legislation that would impose a federal ban on abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy, has lately joined Herschel Walker on the campaign trail – and is defending him vigorously against allegations that he pressured former girlfriends into having abortions and even paid for the procedures.

Mr Graham, who remains obsessed by the sexual assault allegations directed at Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, has described the abortion stories (which Mr Walker denies) as lies. He has also claimed that they are part of a nefarious Democratic effort to smear Mr Walker for fear that children of colour might start to identify with the Republican Party.

Here’s his take:

Ron DeSantis: Children shouldn’t be taught that US is built on ‘stolen land’

11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida said during a debate with Democratic challenger Rep Charlie Crist that “it’s not true” that the United States is built on stolen land.

Mr DeSantis’ claim came in the midst of a broader tirade against so-called critical race theory, a catch-all term for education that deals with the country’s history of racism, colonialism, and inequality.

Abe Asher reports.

Ron DeSantis says children shouldn’t be taught that US is built on ‘stolen land’

Dr Oz mocked for saying ‘local political leaders’ should be involved in women’s abortion decisions

10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Attempting to back away from a plan released by Senator Lindsey Graham to ban abortion at the national level after 15 weeks into a pregnancy, Dr Mehmet Oz stepped right into a potential gaffe on Tuesday evening in the Pennsylvania US Senate debate.

Following his repudiation of that legislation and vow to allow the issue to be decided at the state level, the celebrity TV doctor gave a surprising addition to the typical list of who should be involved in a woman’s intimate medical decisions.

“Abortion should be the business of a woman, her doctor, and her local political leaders,” declared the Republican candidate.

Yes, he really said that.

Dr Oz mocked for saying ‘political leaders’ should have input in women’s abortions

Voices: One demographic won’t be properly represented in the midterms

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Jan Leighley writes:

If past turnout patterns hold in 2022’s midterm election, most demographic groups will be represented as much as they are in presidential elections, with one major exception. People ages 18 to 29 represent 16 percent of the total US population. But they will be a smaller proportion of voters in November. That’s a key finding of my research with political science collaborators Brian Hamel and Jonathan Nagler.

One surprising demographic won’t be properly represented in the midterms

The world should be watching this midterm race

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Richard Hall and Alex Woodward report on how Republican election deniers are running for positions to oversee future elections in Arizona. If they win, they could upend electoral democracy in the US.

The midterms race the world should be watching

What’s at stake in the 2022 midterms?

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

With the midterm elections looming and polls tightening across the country, Democrats, who have held both chambers of Congress and the presidency for the last two years, may not have such consolidated power for much longer.

Republicans look favoured to win the House of Representatives on 8 November, bolstered by frustration over the economy and advantages in the redistricting process that takes place every 10 years. For their part, Democrats are working to hold their ground, campaigning on maintaining access to abortion and underscoring their legislative achievements in the first half of Joe Biden’s presidency.

The outlook is murkier in the Senate, where Republicans are also bidding to take back control from the currently equally split chamber. Several races in key battleground states are tight, leading Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to say the chances of his party winning a majority are just 50-50.

Here’s a look at what may happen if Republicans win a majority in either chamber following the midterms:

From the House to the Senate: What’s at stake in the 2022 midterms?

Which states put cannabis on the ballot in the midterms?

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Recreational marijuana could be legal in half the country if the handful of states with cannabis measures on ballots this November pass them.

Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota have measures on their ballots this fall for voters to consider legalizing recreational marijuana. They would join 19 states and the District of Columbia with recreational cannabis.

Midterm: Which states put cannabis on the ballot in 2022?

A poll within a poll? Alaska’s ranked choice voting system

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

One voter, one ballot. Sure. But in Alaska this year, that’s not the whole story.

Alaska voters face a sort of poll within a poll, where they’ll rank their choices as part of a new system that kicked off earlier this year.

The first ranked choice contest under the system was an August special election won by Democrat Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native to serve in the Congress and first woman to hold Alaska’s only House seat.

So what happens in November?

Midterms: How ranked choice voting works in Alaska

Georgia’s midterm runoff elections: How do they work?

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Two years ago, control of the US Senate came down to Georgia, with two pivotal runoff election wins tipping the chamber’s favor into Democratic hands.

This fall, it’s possible the newly minted battleground state could again play a major role in how the Senate shakes out, with a marquee contest that, thanks to a third-party candidate, may not be decided until a runoff election a month after 8 November.

Here’s a look at the contenders and how the Georgia Senate race — and perhaps control of the chamber — may not be decided until December:

How Georgia’s midterm runoff 2022 elections work

The weirdest things Herschel Walker has said during his Georgia Senate run

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Republicans didn’t nominate Herschel Walker because he was an eloquent speaker.

A political newcomer who has never run for office, Mr Walker has largely avoided speaking in a scripted manner on the campaign as he seeks the Georgia Senate seat.

With this in mind, here are the weirdest, most bizarre or most nonsensical things Herschel Walker has said since he jumped on the campaign trail.

Bulls, badges, Chinese air: The weirdest things Herschel Walker said during campaign

Analysis: The Pennsylvania debate confirms it — Democrats are in trouble

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes that the warning signs were there long before the debate – and had nothing to do with Fetterman using closed captioning.

Fetterman’s debate confirms what we already knew. The Democrats are in trouble

Alito: Roe v Wade leak made Supreme Court justices ‘targets for assassination’

Thursday 27 October 2022 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has said that the unprecedented leak of theRoe v Wade draft opinion made the majority justices “targets for assassination”.

Justice Alito, who authored the draft and final version of the landmark ruling that wiped out 50 years of abortion rights for women across America, blasted the breach as he took to the stage at an event in Washington DC organised by right-wing thinktank the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Alito says Roe v Wade leak made Supreme Court justices ‘targets for assassination’

Voices: An urgent conversation is needed about what happened at the Oz-Fetterman debate

Wednesday 26 October 2022 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

We need to talk about what happened to John Fetterman at the Pennsylvania debate

Nevada county set for conspiracy-inspired ballot hand count

Wednesday 26 October 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A county in Nevada is scheduled to start an unprecedented hand count of its midterm ballots Wednesday, a process fueled by voting machine conspiracy theories that raises concerns about early results being leaked ahead of Election Day.

Nevada county set for conspiracy-inspired ballot hand count

Rand Paul relishing outsider role in 3rd term run in Kentucky

Wednesday 26 October 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Rand Paul was a political outsider more than a decade ago when the renegade Republican rode a conservative tea party wave right past the GOP establishment in Kentucky, bringing his libertarian-leaning brand to the US Senate.

But as Paul seeks a third Senate term against financially overmatched Democrat Charles Booker in the November midterm election, the senator still relishes his willingness to stand alone as he promotes his vision of limited government and restraint in foreign policy.

Read more:

Kentucky's Rand Paul relishes outsider role in 3rd term run

Would a GOP stroke victim’s campaign now be over? History suggests it would not

Wednesday 26 October 2022 21:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Following the performance of recovering stroke victim John Fetterman in the Pennsylvania Senate debate, writer, former TV host, and daughter of the late Senator John McCain, Meghan McCain tweeted: “If Fetterman was a GOPer, his campaign would be over. If you claim otherwise you are a liar and a propagandist.”

Her claim was refuted by Twitter user Conor Rogers who posted: “Mark Kirk had a stroke while in the US Senate and continued to serve — and ran for re-election with the backing of the entire Republican Party. When he came back to the Senate after his illness he was welcomed up the Capitol steps by the Vice President at the time: Joe Biden.”

Here’s a video of that moment:

Is AOC up for re-election in the midterms?

Wednesday 26 October 2022 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

New York Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez famously became the youngest-ever female member of the House of Representatives when she was elected in 2018 at just 29 years old.

Joe Sommerlad looks at her congressional career since and what may happen next.

Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez up for re-election in the midterms?

Anonymous letters warn Arizona Democrats they are being watched

Wednesday 26 October 2022 21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

An anonymous group named “Ben Sent Us” has sent threatening letters to Democratic officials in Arizona and posted flyers and stickers throughout the state with a warning: “We are watching you.”

“Retirees with nothing else to do” will file “hundreds” of lawsuits alleging voter fraud, according to the letter. “They will be locating your homes, your social media profiles and pictures and posting them online.”

Judges who are allegedly complicit in what the group perceives as election fraud “will be considered a traitor and dealt with accordingly, as will you,” the letter reads.

Alex Woodward reports.

‘We are watching you’: Anonymous letters warn Arizona Democrats amid voter harassment

Marjorie Taylor Greene flees local TV interview

Wednesday 26 October 2022 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Marjorie Taylor Greene fled a local Georgia TV show after people started to call into the programme to ask questions.

The far-right Republican appeared on Night Talk on UCTV in the northern parts of the state, to which viewers can call in to ask questions of the guests on the show.

Here’s what happened:

Marjorie Taylor Greene flees local TV interview

Watch: Herschel Walker and Lindsey Graham respond to latest allegation

Wednesday 26 October 2022 20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

“I’m done with this foolishness,” says Herschel Walker in response to the latest allegation against him that he forced another woman to have an abortion.

Senator Graham, who is campaigning with Mr Walker, compares the allegations to those levelled against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Watch:

‘A complete hypocrite’: Woman emotionally describes Herschel Walker driving her to have an abortion

Wednesday 26 October 2022 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

A woman emotionally described her experiences of Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker of Georgia allegedly driving her to have an abortion, calling him a hypocrite.

Attorney Gloria Allred held a press conference with a woman who told her story anonymously. Jane Doe explained why she decided to do so anonymously.

“I am no coward, but I am a realist,” she said. “And I choose to protect my identity to protect those I love, Herschel Walker is a hypocrite and he’s not fit to be a US senator.”

Eric Garcia reports on the latest scandal to hit the Georgia Republican Senate candidates campaign.

Second woman emotionally describes how Herschel Walker made her have an abortion

Flurry of suits against Biden gets mixed results for Missouri Senate candidate

Wednesday 26 October 2022 20:02 , Oliver O'Connell

In just 20 months, Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed 25 lawsuits against Democratic President Joe Biden‘s administration, challenging policies on Covid-19 vaccinations, climate change, immigration and education, among other things.

It puts Missouri behind only Louisiana in the number of lawsuits against the Biden administration.

Schmitt’s wins are about equal to his losses thus far. But Schmitt has made the court cases a central theme in his front-running campaign for an open US Senate seat.

Biden suits get mixed results for Missouri Senate candidate

Bloomberg pumps $10m into Democrat House campaigns, report says

Wednesday 26 October 2022 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Mayor of New York Mike Bloomberg is stepping in to help House Democrats keep pace with a wave of new spending by their Republican opponents as the midterm elections draw near.

The billionaire media mogul is sending another $10m to the House Majority PAC to try and avert a red wave of wins for the GOP, Politico reports.

“He has a long-standing relationship with Speaker Pelosi, was aware of the party’s current needs, and wanted to step up again,” Marc La Vorgna, a Bloomberg spokesperson, told the outlet.

Mr Bloomberg has had a less visible role on the national political scene this cycle after unsuccessfully running for president in 2020.

However, Mr La Vorgna said he is heavily invested in maintaining Democratic control of Congress, after helping to flip the House in 2018.

‘The View’ springs to Fetterman’s defence, labelling Oz a bully

Wednesday 26 October 2022 19:12 , Oliver O'Connell

The hosts of ABC’s The View have sprung to the defence of Democratic Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman following his debate last night with Republican opponent Dr Mehmet Oz.

Mr Fetterman struggled with auditory processing issues following a stroke in May from which he is recovering.

Host Sunny Hostin said of Dr Oz: “It was really strange to me that he chose to bully a stroke victim.”

Fellow host Joy Behar was unimpressed at Dr Oz’s campaign for capitalising on Mr Fetterman’s stumbles, asking why a physician would appear to mock a stroke victim.

“What kind of a doctor is behind that? Aren’t you supposed to do no harm?” Ms Behar fumed. “It’s so un-empathetic to the guy, you know?”

Ms Hostin added: “He obviously was bullying him and, you know, I don’t think the people of Pennsylvania or the people in general like that because Fetterman raised $1 million after that debate.”

“And I think it takes real courage to show that you have been knocked down. It takes real bravery to allow people to see your weakness, right?” she added to the approval of the audience. “And we know that Fetterman’s cognitive abilities have not been compromised. It’s about expression that has been compromised. Aphasia, exactly.”

How Fetterman v Oz went down

Wednesday 26 October 2022 18:59 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent’s Richard Hall was at the crucial debate between John Fetterman and Dr Mehmet Oz in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Here’s his report on how the showdown unfolded.

Fetterman and Oz went head-to-head for the first time. Here’s how it went down

Ohio elections chief cautions that precincts can’t take absentee ballots on election day

Wednesday 26 October 2022 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ohio law does not permit voters to return absentee ballots at their precincts on Election Day, the state’s elections chief is cautioning amid a misinformation campaign around the security of voting machines that’s urging them to do so.

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose said those voters who heed advice from a prominent national group of Republican election deniers and hold onto their paper ballots until 8 November must deliver them to their county board of elections office. Poll workers at precinct-level voting locations cannot accept them, he said.

Read more:

Ohio elections chief: Precincts can't take absentee ballots

Rubio: Jan 6 committee ‘a joke’

Wednesday 26 October 2022 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Senator Marco Rubio has called the House select committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol a “joke” and a “kangaroo court”.

He would instead like to see an investigation into the riots of 2020.

Mr Rubio is up for reelection in the midterms and faces a challenge from Democrat Val Demings, the former Orlando chief of police and current congresswoman for Florida’s 10th district.

The two clashed on abortion and gun safety during a debate earlier this month.

Rubio and Demings in furious clashes on abortion and gun safety in Florida debate

Another Herschel Walker abortion accuser to share story today

Wednesday 26 October 2022 18:02 , Oliver O'Connell

An anonymous woman is set to accuse Georgia GOP senate candidate Herschel Walker of paying for an abortion and driving her to obtain the procedure at a press conference to be held Wednesday afternoon.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest.

Another Herschel Walker abortion accuser to share story at press conference

Voices: One surprising demographic won’t be properly represented in the midterms

Wednesday 26 October 2022 17:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Jan Leighly writes:

If past turnout patterns hold in 2022’s midterm election, most demographic groups will be represented as much as they are in presidential elections, with one major exception. People ages 18 to 29 represent 16 percent of the total US population. But they will be a smaller proportion of voters in November. That’s a key finding of my research with political science collaborators Brian Hamel and Jonathan Nagler.

Read on:

One surprising demographic won’t be properly represented in the midterms

The weird words of Herschel Walker

Wednesday 26 October 2022 17:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Republicans didn’t nominate Herschel Walker because he was an eloquent speaker. A political newcomer who has never run for office, he has largely avoided speaking in a scripted manner on the campaign as he tries to capture Raphael Warnock’s Georgia Senate seat – and as a result, his off-book words have often been far outside the usual parameters of political speech.

Courtesy of Eric Garcia, here are the weirdest, most bizarre or most nonsensical things Herschel Walker has said since he jumped on the campaign trail.

Bulls, badges, Chinese air: The weirdest things Herschel Walker said during campaign

Rick Scott says female Democratic senator “just not likeable”

Wednesday 26 October 2022 16:30 , Andrew Naughtie

Since being charged with running the national Republican Senate campaign, Florida Senator Rick Scott has repeatedly caused problems for his colleagues, not least by putting out a self-produced policy plan that included raising income taxes on tens of millions of Americans. He has also many times put his foot in it on various matters – and his latest misstep came in this morning in an interview with right-wing talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, in which the two men discussed Washington Senator Patty Murray:

New figures show huge Georgia turnout

Wednesday 26 October 2022 16:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Early voting is well underway in Georgia, and the early numbers show a huge turnout by the standards of a midterm cycle, with almost 20 per cent of active voters already having cast their ballots:

PA debate: Network denies its technology hampered Fetterman’s performance

Wednesday 26 October 2022 15:27 , Andrew Naughtie

After last night’s Senate debate between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz, Mr Fetterman’s communications director, Joe Calvello, told reporters that his boss had triumphed over technical difficulties. “We are thrilled with John’s performance. He did remarkably well tonight – especially when you consider that he’s still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors.

“John won countless exchanges, counter-punched aggressively, and pushed back on Oz’s cruelty and attacks.”

However, the network that hosted the debate, Nexstar, has pushed back hard on the claim that the captions and equipment performed below par, instead explaining that Mr Fetterman only rehearsed with it once and insisting that it functioned as planned. Here’s the statement:

"I’m speaking”: NY governor channels Kamala Harris at debate

Wednesday 26 October 2022 15:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Kathy Hochul, the sitting Democratic governor of New York, is fighting a tough race against Republican challenger Lee Zeldin, who has manoeuvred the campaign to focus on issues of crime and public safety. The two candidates’ debate last night spent significant time on the issue, and at one point Ms Hochul had to admonish Mr Zeldin for interrupting her – evoking the most memorable moment of Kamala Harris’s 2020 debate with Mike Pence.

The exchange came during a discussion of gun safety laws, which have lately been loosened in New York state because of a US Supreme Court ruling.

Long read: What do Georgia voters really think of Herschel Walker

Wednesday 26 October 2022 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Reporting from the Georgia Senate race, Andrew Buncombe takes a look at the travails of Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee whose myriad scandals about lies, exaggerations, domestic violence and secret children have put his campaign against Raphael Warnock on the ropes.

At least, it seems that that’s what happened, with Mr Warnock apparently widening his slight lead. But on the ground, it seems some of Mr Warnock’s support is as strong as ever:

Read the full report below.

Hero or hypocrite - what do Georgia voters really think of Herschel Walker?

Jan 6 committee member defends panel’s work at debate

Wednesday 26 October 2022 14:00 , Andrew Naughtie

Congresswoman Elaine Luria, who flipped a Republican seat in 2018 and held it in 2020, is fighting a tough race to stay in the House for another term – and at a debate last night, she was asked to explain why her work on the January 6 select committee mattered when Virginians cared more about inflation and other matters.

In her answer, she insisted she and her fellow committee members are “on the right side of history”. Perhaps unfortunately for her, polling across the country shows that concerns about the future of democracy are indeed outranked by economic and other issues in voters’ minds.

Watch: Trump pressed AZ candidate to push big lie

Wednesday 26 October 2022 13:30 , Andrew Naughtie

In a somewhat eerie clip from a Tucker Carlson documentary, Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters – who is a controversial for numerous reasons, including his long history of racist online posts – is seen talking on the phone with Donald Trump, who chastises him for not doing enough to push the lie that the 2020 election was stolen.

In the clip, Mr Trump specifically tells Mr Masters to be more like Kari Lake, running for governor in the same state, who has become notorious for bringing up the fictional theft of the election in answer to almost every question she is asked.

The polling in the Arizona race shows the Trump-backed Mr Masters roughly four points behind Democratic incumbent Mark Kelly, who is a top Republican target.

Abe Asher has more.

Trump pressed Arizona GOP Senate candidate to push ‘big lie’, documentary reveals

Who won the Pennsylvania Senate debate?

Wednesday 26 October 2022 13:00 , Andrew Naughtie

The two major candidates for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat stepped onto the debate stage in Harrisburg with something to prove.

Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman needed to prove that he could do the job after he suffered a stroke back in May.

Retired surgeon and television host Mehmet Oz, a political neophyte endorsed by former president Donald Trump, needed to show he could actually have a grasp on the issues in Washington and address policy questions head on.

Here are our main takeaways from the debate:

Who won Pennsylvania’s Senate debate? Top takeaways from Fetterman and Dr Oz face-off

Fetterman addresses ‘elephant in the room’ — his stroke recovery

Wednesday 26 October 2022 12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

John Fetterman wasted no time at Tuesday’s debate addressing what he called the “elephant in the room” — the auditory processing issues he still faces as he recovers from a stroke suffered days before the state’s Democratic primary election earlier this year.

John Bowden has the story.

Fetterman addresses ‘elephant in the room’, hammers Dr Oz for remarks about stroke

Dr Oz rules out supporting federal abortion ban

Wednesday 26 October 2022 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Dr Mehmet Oz has said he would not support a federal abortion if elected to the US Senate, arguing the issue ought to be left up to the individual states.

Speaking at a debate with Democrat John Fetterman, designed to help voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania decide on their candidate, the one-time television celebrity was asked if he would back a bill being proposed by fellow Republican Lindsay Graham.

Andrew Buncombe reports.

Dr Oz rules out supporting federal abortion ban if elected to Senate

DeSantis says children shouldn’t be taught that US is built on ‘stolen land’

Wednesday 26 October 2022 10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida said during a debate with Democratic challenger Rep Charlie Crist that “it’s not true” that the United States is built on stolen land.

Mr DeSantis’ claim came in the midst of a broader tirade against so-called critical race theory, a catch-all term for education that deals with the country’s history of racism, colonialism, and inequality.

Abe Asher reports.

Ron DeSantis says children shouldn’t be taught that US is built on ‘stolen land’

Trump pressed Blake Masters to keep pushing ‘big lie’, documentary reveals

Wednesday 26 October 2022 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A clip from new Tucker Carlson documentary on Arizona GOP Senate candidate Blake Masters’ campaign shows former President Donald Trump urging Mr Masters to more forcefully peddle the myth that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Abe Asher reports.

Trump pressed Arizona GOP Senate candidate to push ‘big lie’, documentary reveals

Midterms race we should all be watching.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Richard Hall and Alex Woodward report on how Republican election deniers are running for positions to oversee future elections in Arizona. If they win, they could upend electoral democracy in the US.

The midterms race the world should be watching

‘Expect anything’ on midterm night as polls fluctuate, says top election forecaster

Wednesday 26 October 2022 08:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A top elections forecaster says the outcome of the upcoming midterm elections is far from certain, as the two parties are separated by a razor-thin gap in polls of key races as well as voters’ general feelings about control of Congress.

John Bowden reports.

Top elections expert says ‘expect anything’ on midterm night as forecasts fluctuate

When are the midterm elections?

Wednesday 26 October 2022 07:00 , Oliver O'Connell

All of the 435 seats in the US House of Representatives will be up for reelection, along with 34 out of 100 seats in the US Senate.

In the states and territories, 39 governors’ races will be decided, in addition to a number of various state and local elections.

When are the midterm elections?

Ohio Senate race: Tim Ryan v JD Vance in crucial election

Wednesday 26 October 2022 06:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Ohio’s race for a US Senate seat is one of the most important — and expensive — in the nation. Here’s everything to know about the crucial election.

Ohio Senate race: Tim Ryan faces JD Vance in crucial election

Georgia Senate race - what you need to know

Wednesday 26 October 2022 04:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Senator Raphael Warnock is seeking a full six-year term against one of the most legendary University of Georgia football players of all time — Herschel Walker.

A preacher versus the running back will decide the future of Georgia

Dodge, deny or fib? Presidential aspirants on whether they’ll serve full terms in current roles

Wednesday 26 October 2022 04:20 , Oliver O'Connell

They dodge. They hedge. And, yes, they sometimes even fib — or at least flip-flop.

Presidential aspirants dreaming of the White House while running for reelection to congressional or state posts often face an uncomfortable question: Whatever your higher hopes — and the timing they might demand — will you commit to serving out a full term for the folks who vote for you now?

Read more:

Dodge, deny or fib: Candidates vague on plans for '24

Video clip of DeSantis reacting to 2024 question is viewed 3 million times

Wednesday 26 October 2022 04:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A video purporting to show Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faltering when asked whether or not he would serve a full four-year term if he is re-elected has been viewed more than 3 million times on social media.

In the video taken during a recent debate, Mr DeSantis’ Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, intimates that Mr DeSantis is planning to run for the presidency in 2024, and presses him on whether or not he plans to serve a full term as governor if he’s elected.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Video of Ron DeSantis reacting to 2024 question is viewed 3m times

Watch: Contrasting positions on abortion

Wednesday 26 October 2022 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Reaction from current Pennsylvania senators

Wednesday 26 October 2022 03:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Dr Oz: ‘Local political leaders’ should have input in woman’s abortion decision

Wednesday 26 October 2022 03:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Attempting to back away from a plan released by Senator Lindsey Graham to ban abortion at the national level after 15 weeks into a pregnancy, Dr Mehmet Oz stepped right into a potential gaffe on Tuesday evening in the Pennsylvania US Senate debate.

John Bowden reports.

Dr Oz mocked for saying ‘political leaders’ should have input in women’s abortions

Mr Oz or Dr Oz?

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:55 , Oliver O'Connell

The local journalists moderating the only debate between Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman and his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz may have given the GOP candidate, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, a bit of status anxiety during their Tuesday night sparring session.

Television reporters Dennis Owens of ABC27 and Lisa Sylvester of Pittsburgh’s WPXI both spent the entire debate referring to the ex-Columbia University medical school instructor as “Mr Oz,” rather than with the honourific “Doctor,” as would ordinarily be customary for a person with a medical degree.

Andrew Feinberg watched the debate.

Moderator raises eyebrows by refusing to call Mehmet Oz ‘Dr Oz’

Watch: Fetterman campaign response to debate

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: John Fetterman stumbles over fracking question

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Dr Oz rules out supporting federal abortion ban

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Dr Mehmet Oz has said he would not support a federal abortion if elected to the US Senate - saying the issue ought to be left up to the individual states.

Speaking at the debate with Democrat John Fetterman, designed to help voters who to vote for as governor of the battleground state of Pennsylvania, the one-time television celebrity was asked if he would back a bill being backed by fellow Republican Lindsay Graham.

Andrew Buncombe reports on the doctor’s answer.

Dr Oz rules out supporting federal abortion ban if elected to Senate

Fetterman addresses ‘elephant in the room’, hammers Dr Oz for remarks about stroke

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:25 , Oliver O'Connell

John Fetterman wasted no time at Tuesday’s debate addressing what he called the “elephant in the room” — the auditory processing issues he still faces as he recovers from a stroke suffered days before the state’s Democratic primary election earlier this year.

John Bowden reports.

Fetterman addresses ‘elephant in the room’, hammers Dr Oz for remarks about stroke

Top takeaways from John Fetterman and Dr Oz midterm face-off

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The two major candidates for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat stepped onto the stage in Harrisburg having something to prove. Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman needed to prove that he could do the job after he suffered a stroke back in May.

Retired surgeon and television host Mehmet Oz, a political neophyte endorsed by former president Donald Trump, needed to show he could actually have a grasp on the issues in Washington and address policy questions head on.

Here are our main takeaways from the debate:

Who won Pennsylvania’s Senate debate? Top takeaways from Fetterman and Dr Oz face-off

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Oz is mocked for one particular answer he gave about reproductive rights.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

As the debate wraps up, the candidates are asked which team they’re backing on Sunday.

Fetterman is for the Pittsburgh Steelers; Oz is for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Both candidates say they oppose expanding the Supreme Court.

Oz says Fetterman supports eliminating the filibuster which Fetterman concurs: “That’s true.”

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Oz is asked if he would support Trump in 2024 should he run.

“I’ll support whoever the Republican Party puts up,” he says.

Asked again, Oz says: “I would support Donald Trump if he decided to run for president.”

When Fetterman is asked about Biden running he says yes, if Biden chooses to run he will support him.

Oz also says he has not been following Trump’s legal woes as he has been campaigning.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:42 , Oliver O'Connell

On foreign policy, Fetterman identifies China as the greatest threat to the US.

Oz says he believes the problem is that the US is not projecting strength.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The candidates clash over immigration with Oz saying every state is now a border state and Fetterman calling out Republican governors for their stunt of bussing illegal migrants across the country.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Questions on crime and gun control.

Oz declines to say if he’d have voted for the recent bipartisan gun bill, which was supported by Pat Toomey who is stepping down as senator for Pennsylvania.

He says there are “parts of that bill that I like a lot.”

The moderator follows up, Oz doesn’t give a yes or no. “I would have tried to improve that bill.”

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Fetterman stumbles over a fracking question.

He says he supports the practice as “we need independence with energy”.

The moderator asks about conflicting statements in the past in which he opposed fracking.

Fetterman repeats he has always supported fracking and does not explain the past statement.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:31 , Oliver O'Connell

In a clash over socialised healthcare, Bernie Sanders gets mentioned several times.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:26 , Oliver O'Connell

On the topic of fitness to serve, Fetterman says he believes that his doctors when they say he is fit to serve. He dodges a question about releasing a detailed medical record of his stroke.

“Transparency is about showing up. I’m here today to have a debate.”

“If my doctor believes I’m fit to serve.”

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: Oz on the minimum wage.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Moving on to abortion, Oz is asked if he favors a nationwide ban except for the limited exceptions.

“There should not be involvement from the federal government in how states decide their abortion decisions,” he says. “I don’t want the federal government involved with that at all.”

The two spar over ads that Fetterman ran that Oz says were not the truth.

Does he support the Lindsey Graham 15-week bill? “I am not going to support federal rules that block the ability of states to do what they want to do.”

Fetterman shouts: “You roll with Doug Mastriano.”

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:18 , Oliver O'Connell

On the topic of the federal minimum wage, Oz says he wants it to go as high as it can go - but through market forces not government intervention.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked about corporate greed, Fetterman says Oz “has never met an oil company he hasn’t swiped right about.”

Earlier the two sparred over their houses with Fetterman pointing out that Oz has 10 homes and Oz saying Fetterman got his for a dollar from his sister.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Fetterman accuses Oz of not using American workers to make his products.

Wednesday 26 October 2022 01:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Oz accuses Fetterman of not paying his taxes on multiple occasions.

Fetterman counters that it was connected with a non-profit and that the Dr Oz rules applies: if he is on TV he is lying.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website