“Television as a poll”: Trump supports Dr. Oz for nomination to the Pennsylvania Senate | By-elections in the United States 2022

Donald Trump Supports Dr. Mehmet Oz for Republican Candidate for Senate Pennsylvaniaan expression of support for a TV star who could test the power of the former president in his party.

Being on TV was “like a poll, meaning people like you,” the former president and “Celebrity Apprentice” star said of Oz, a heart surgeon who became a daytime presenter.

However, many of the Republican Party’s hard-line right-wingers are questioning whether Oz is a true conservative.

In a statement before a rally in Selma, North Carolina on Saturday night, Trump said: “It’s all about winning the election to stop left-wing radical maniacs from destroying our country.

“The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tremendous opportunity to save America by electing the brilliant and famous Dr. Mehmet Oz to the United States Senate.”

At his rally, Trump called Oz a “great guy, a good man … Educated at Harvard, a grand, huge career, and he liked him for a long time. It’s like a poll. You know, when you’re on TV for 18 years, it’s like a poll, it means people like you. “

Earlier, Trump supported Sean Parnell, who left after his wife accused him. abusive behaviorthat he denied. David McCormick, head of the hedge fund, also sought support from Trump.

The Senate is divided 50 by 50, controlled by a vote of Vice President Kamal Harris. Control will be at stake in November. Republicans said they could use the Senate to deny Joe Biden another election to the Supreme Court.

The Democratic Party’s election campaign committee in the senator sought to show Trump’s support for Oz as a breakup.

“The Republican Senate primaries in Pennsylvania have already been unpleasant, costly and brutal.” said spokesman Patrick Burgwinkle. “Now Trump’s approval will only intensify this intra-party struggle, as was the case in the Republican Senate primaries across the country, leaving their final candidate severely damaged and unsuitable voters who will decide the general election.”

Oza has been accused of not keeping up with Pennsylvania voters, not least because he entered the race after living for two decades in New Jersey. His entry into politics also drew attention to his television career, which began with the Oprah Winfrey show.

In 2014, Oz told senators some of the foods he promoted, including the “miracle” green coffee bean extract, had no “scientific collection”. The following year a group of eminent physicians accused Oz manifestations of “outrageous lack of honesty” and the promotion of “charlatan”.

Politically, prominent figures who support Trump have said that Oz is not a conservative.

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon said: “Like Dr. Oz is probably the most anti-Mage guy, and you made Fox incessantly pimp this guy, and Newsmax pimp this guy, and that’s what it is – like Dr. Oz from New Jersey, [Turkish president Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s friend, who came from Jersey, how did he become a factor in the race for the Senate in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? ”

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell clashed with Trump, who sought to oust him from power. Appearing Sunday on Fox News, a Kentucky senator was asked about Trump’s support in the state of Oz.

“We have a good selection of candidates and I think we were in a good position to win this race, no matter who the candidate is,” McConnell said. “I guess in the next few weeks we’ll find out how much this approval has affected the changes.”

In a statement, Trump said Oz is especially popular with women because of his work in daytime television and can do well in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, cities with a democratic leaning. The former president also mentioned his ambiguous appearance on the Oz show in the 2016 election campaign, when Trump revealed partial poll results.

Trump said: “He even said I was in extraordinary health, which made me like him even more (although he also said I should lose a couple of pounds!)”

Trump who appointed Oz to an advisory role to the White Housealso presented it as “against abortion,“ very strong against crime, borders, election fraud, our great military and our veterinarians, tax cuts ”and gun rights.

Oz said: “President Trump has wisely supported me because I am a conservative who opposes Joe Biden and wakes up on the left.”

Polls show that Oz and McCormick are alike. The winner is likely to meet with Democrat John Fetterman, who is now vice governor, in the November election.

Speaking to Politico“A man close to Trump … noted a phrase that Trump often repeated when talking about Oz: ‘He’s been on TV in people’s bedrooms and living rooms for years.’