Washington Examiner columnist Salena Zito downplayed the “hyperbole” uprising that Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is facing within the Democratic Party.
Fetterman became a senator in 2022 after beating former Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Conor Lamb in the primary election and Republican nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz in the general election. Zito said there are a lot of posts on X “pushing” Lamb, even after Fetterman beat Lamb by 30%, winning all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
“And the argument that Lamb is making, that Fetterman is not a true Democrat, Fetterman votes 93% of the time with Democrats, whereas Lamb voted 68% of the time with Democrats,” Zito said on the Hugh Hewitt Show. “That’s another — that’s almost a 30-point difference.”
“And so I think there is a lot of posturing, but the Democrats that I talk to, even they know that there’s sort of this online movement against Fetterman, it’s very difficult for me to find anyone outside of the far-left, and by the way, this all has to do with Israel, right?” Zito said.
Fetterman has been a vocal supporter of Israel in the Gaza conflict, greeting Palestinian protesters outside his home in Pennsylvania with an Israeli flag in January 2024. Zito said it is “vulgar” how people are “prosecuting” the senator.
Fetterman is in office until 2029, and can seek reelection in 2028 if he chooses. The Pennsylvania Working Families Party announced in November that it is seeking to primary the incumbent senator, though it hasn’t selected a candidate yet.
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Zito also addressed Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, who Hewitt said is “trying to run” like Fetterman and be “that kind of real guy living down the street.” Zito said she hasn’t followed Platner’s campaign, but “even from afar,” people can tell when someone isn’t “authentic.”
Platner’s main opponent in the Democratic primary race is Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), with both seeking to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) this November. Platner gained the endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) last week.