{"id":1561629,"date":"2022-07-19T17:32:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T21:32:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1561629"},"modified":"2022-07-19T17:34:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T21:34:40","slug":"weak-candidates-threaten-gops-hopes-to-retake-senate-expert-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/weak-candidates-threaten-gops-hopes-to-retake-senate-expert-says\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Weak\u2019 Candidates Threaten GOP\u2019s Hopes To Retake Senate, Expert Says"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fweak-candidates-threaten-gops-hopes-to-retake-senate-expert-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1561629&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div>\n<ul>\n<li><b>An expert argues that the GOP has chosen \u201cweak\u201d candidates for their Senate races, and are now seeing the repercussions of their actions.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Pennsylvania and Georgia are two races that may have \u201cweak\u201d candidates running.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201cDr. Oz is a very weak candidate, and he is not going to get any help from the gubernatorial candidate [Doug Mastriano],\u201d Michael McKenna, a strategist and former Trump administration official, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. \u201cThe immediate question in Pennsylvania is how bad off physically is Mr. Fetterman.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Republicans seem poised to take back the House this November, but the Senate is a different story with \u201cweak\u201d candidates possibly jeopardizing the party\u2019s chances, according to an expert.<\/p>\n<p>In Pennsylvania, GOP candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz is trailing his progressive opponent Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in almost every poll conducted, and his poor performance has many Keystone State Republicans concerned, according to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2022\/07\/07\/dr-oz-gop-pennsylvania-senate-00044483\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2022\/07\/07\/dr-oz-gop-pennsylvania-senate-00044483&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2Fl7FYpwGK4BHxSnWjjxEa\">Politico<\/a>. Oz has also been out-fundraised by Fetterman by over $6 million, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/elections\/senate\/PA\/2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/elections\/senate\/PA\/2022\/&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1cdp1wGFmJ8PEfXnnuRzBr\">Federal Election Committee (FEC)<\/a> filings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Oz is a very weak candidate, and he is not going to get any help from the gubernatorial candidate [Republican Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano],\u201d Michael McKenna, a strategist and former Trump administration official, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. \u201cThe immediate question in Pennsylvania is how bad off physically is Mr. Fetterman.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7431253\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7431253\" class=\"wp-image-7431253 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GettyImages-1396560375-scaled-e1652810479587.jpg\" alt=\"Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman campaigns for U.S. Senate at a meet and greet at Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport on May 10, 2022 in Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania. Fetterman is the Democratic primary front runner in a field that includes U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and state Sen. Malcolm Kenyatta in the May 17 primary vying to replace Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago\/Getty Images)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GettyImages-1396560375-scaled-e1652810479587.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/GettyImages-1396560375-scaled-e1652810479587-279x120.jpg 279w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1396560375-scaled-e1652810479587-620x266-1.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1396560375-scaled-e1652810479587-768x330-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1396560375-scaled-e1652810479587-1536x660-1.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GettyImages-1396560375-scaled-e1652810479587-2048x880-1.jpg 2048w\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-7431253\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman campaigns for U.S. Senate at a meet and greet at Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport on May 10, 2022 in Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania. Fetterman is the Democratic primary front runner in a field that includes U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and state Sen. Malcolm Kenyatta in the May 17 primary vying to replace Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fetterman suffered a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/07\/16\/1111738129\/john-fetterman-pennsylvania-democrat-senate-stroke-abortion-guns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/07\/16\/1111738129\/john-fetterman-pennsylvania-democrat-senate-stroke-abortion-guns&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw3H6iFGL3DHOdDZByUfZHlq\">stroke<\/a>\u00a0in May that took him off the campaign trail for weeks. Some Democrats have since raised concerns over his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2022-election\/fettermans-health-return-campaign-trail-mystery-democrats-grow-nervous-rcna31645\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2022-election\/fettermans-health-return-campaign-trail-mystery-democrats-grow-nervous-rcna31645&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2AYA8d3BEx-OqW-yKeQ49V\">viability<\/a>\u00a0as a candidate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPennsylvania is completely dependent on how physically capable Mr. Fetterman is,\u201d McKenna told the DCNF.<\/p>\n<p>Despite his health troubles, Fetterman is leading Oz in the polls by a range of 4 to 9 percentage points, according to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/democrats-could-flip-gop-held-senate-seats-ohio-pennsylvania-polls-1725086\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/democrats-could-flip-gop-held-senate-seats-ohio-pennsylvania-polls-1725086&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2LaygU5FD6Gqi0ldTYU8U5\">Newsweek<\/a> analysis of polls last week. Fetterman has tried to paint Oz as a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JohnFetterman\/status\/1534525904373747713\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">carpetbagger<\/a>\u201d from New Jersey who only came back to Pennsylvania in hopes of being elected to political office.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Oz is gaining support throughout the Commonwealth from Republicans, Democrats, and Independents because he is out on the campaign trail listening to and learning from voters,\u201d Brittany Yanick, communications director for the Oz campaign, told the DCNF. \u201cDr. Oz\u2019s campaign will also have ample resources to get its message out, just like in the primary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yanick also argued that support for Fetterman will dwindle as voters learn more about his platform.<\/p>\n<p>McKenna speculated that former football star and Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker may win the race in Georgia, despite recent revelations that Walker had children out of wedlock who he did not raise.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/07\/11\/republicans-house-majority-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/07\/11\/republicans-house-majority-elections\/&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw08vQCIlOV7abWQtKs-lOeA\"><strong>(RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong><strong>GOP Set To Win Massive Majority In House, Analysis Finds)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe might do OK in Georgia; Mr. Walker seems to have a pretty solid coating of teflon,\u201d McKenna told the DCNF.<\/p>\n<p>Incumbent Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock has raised almost $85 million compared to Walker\u2019s $20 million war chest, according to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/elections\/senate\/GA\/2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/elections\/senate\/GA\/2022\/&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1op5ZFr-FAqFbwr8VndGOR\">FEC filings<\/a>. But despite his massive fundraising support, Warnock\u2019s seat is far from safe with the latest\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/s3.documentcloud.org\/documents\/22087157\/aarp-2022-state-survey.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/s3.documentcloud.org\/documents\/22087157\/aarp-2022-state-survey.pdf&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw0ucNqwnz1_cKe29cfzXdzE\">polling<\/a>\u00a0showing him only 3 percentage points ahead of Walker.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocrats should be worried,\u201d National Republican Senate Committee spokeswoman Lizzie Litzow told the DCNF. \u201cOur Republican Senate candidates across the country are strong and willing to fight against Biden\u2019s failing agenda, unlike Senate Democrats and their candidates who will simply continue to be a rubber stamp for Biden.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Overall, McKenna remains optimistic ahead of the 2022 midterms and maintains that all is not lost for GOP candidates in tough Senate races, despite the current polling. As for the other toss-up seats, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada seem most likely to fall into the GOP\u2019s hands, according to McKenna.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn most places, the races are within the margin of error, so, it\u2019s probably a little early to get nervous,\u201d McKenna said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn said the GOP needs to take advantage of President Joe Biden\u2019s unpopularity. \u201cThe environment is excellent for us,\u201d he told\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2022\/07\/15\/senate-republican-candidates-herschel-oz-masters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2022\/07\/15\/senate-republican-candidates-herschel-oz-masters&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1658343441312000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1IBbWkPxGrBY7tvFBXjLTN\">Axios<\/a>. \u201cWe can\u2019t fumble the ball on the five-yard line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Fetterman, Warnock and Walker campaigns did not respond to the DCNF\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8216;Dr. Oz is a very weak candidate, and he is not going to get any help from the gubernatorial candidate&#8217;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":863,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1561629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1561629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/863"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1561629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1561629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1561629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1561629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1561629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}