Will Fetterman Silence Lamb in Pennsylvania Senate Face-Off?

[peggysue2]

106. That's pretty cruel to tag any candidate as 'lab-engineered.'

Conor Lamb is a straight-forward, traditional candidate who checks all the boxes. Polished, well-spoken, experienced with a military background to boot. He's proven he can win in a red district; in fact, his win shocked a lot of people at the time. That doesn't mean he comes to a state-wide contest problem free. His voting record isn't one a lot of Dems will cheer--a 68-70% Trump/Republican vote record in the early years. He's gotten better but that first year was a doozy.

Fetterman is anything but traditional in both looks and delivery. A number of writers have described him as a 'lone wolf.' Not sure how well that translates to the Senate but the man definitely has juice when it comes to small donors who see something different in the man.

Dare I say 'authentic.' Okay, I said it.

There's nothing much or certainly not much that's obvious for the Republicans to sink their teeth into when it comes to Conor Lamb. Although I'm sure they'd come up with something; they always do.

But Fetterman?

The 2013 incident will be batted around forever which is why Fetterman needs to deflate and squash all the corners now, get both the public and press on his side. I thought he did a very credible job in the released video but he needs to do more to put it to rest. He'll get his chance in the 3 debates coming up. As for his progressive creds? He's a pro-Union guy as are most Dems. He agrees that fracking needs to stay in the short-term; that's a pretty moderate stance. He's a strong climate change policy supporter but criticizes those who say we can get all the way in the next 5-10 years. He supports Biden's BBB agenda. He's a staunch advocate for federal legalization of marijuana; the House just passed a bill to legalize cannabis.

For me, Fetterman is an unapologetic liberal. Conor Lamb is a moderate-to-conservative candidate whose liberal creds are pretty damn recent.

The only question is who has the best chance to take the seat in November. Right now, I think the primary is Fetterman's to lose. He has a big lead in the polls and the biggest war chest.

The debates are going to be important. For me and a lot of voters.

But I honestly think John Fetterman--despite conventional wisdom thus far--has a good shot at this. That rough exterior, the way he talks? He could easily be living in my working-class neighborhood despite his experience and education. I score that quality as a plus.

That said, if Conor Lamb has another surprise victory in May? He will have my vote come November.