On Monday (August 29), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) announced his “great confidence” in Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, despite Oz trailing Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, according to recent polling data.
In Kentucky, McConnell was asked by a reporter about his thoughts on Oz winning his Senate race, to which he replied, “I have great confidence. I think Oz has a great shot at winning.”
Oz has been painted as an out-of-touch elite from New Jersey by Fetterman’s campaign, a message that has not done the famous TV doctor any favors.
Yet, McConnell’s comments, surprising based on statements he made two weeks ago about his doubts the GOP could win a Senate majority based on “candidate quality,” aren’t that shocking considering he hosted a fundraiser for Oz and other GOP Senate nominees on Friday (August 26).
The Friday fundraiser was conducted for Oz, Georgia Senate candidate
Herschel Walker and Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), who is also pursuing the upper chamber.
All three men have been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
McConnell also referenced the fundraising event as proof he believed in Oz’s chances, emphasizing, “I don’t think I would have had him here if I didn’t think that.”
McConnell’s vote of confidence may not be enough to save Oz, who trails Fetterman by nine percentage points, according to a poll by FiveThirtyEight.
Oz has also been engulfed in several controversies, the latest being one over a crudité.
Eariler this month, Fetterman’s campaign resurfaced a video first posted by Oz in April, in which the former TV doctor roamed the aisles of a local grocery store searching for a crudité to demonstrate the effects of inflation.
The video, which saw Oz being heavily criticized for mispronouncing the grocery store’s name and using the French word for a “veggie tray,” helped Fetterman’s campaign take in $500,000 in 24 hours.
