Democrat Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) acknowledged former President Donald Trump has forged a special relationship with Pennsylvanians following his assassination attempt in Butler earlier this year.
Joining The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg at a festival event last Thursday, the slovenly dressed Pennsylvania US senator noted he’d witnessed a surge in Trump popularity since would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks fired a bullet that grazed Trump at a MAGA rally on July 13.
“Trump has created a special kind of hold within a corner…and he’s remade – the party – and he has a special kind of place in Pennsylvania, and I think that only deepened after the first assassination attempt,” he said.
NEW: Dem Senator John Fetterman says Donald Trump has a "special" bond with Pennsylvania that only got stronger when he was shot in Butler.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 22, 2024
The statement was Fetterman's attempt to get Harris' attention about the current situation in his home state.
"I trust her instincts &… pic.twitter.com/p7QIs1qbMD
He went on to caution Dems that while Kamala appears to be “an amazing candidate overall…I would also remind you that Secretary Clinton was fantastic, perhaps the most supremely accomplished kind of candidate that I can ever remember, and see what happens…”
According to TND, Fetterman recalled witnessing Trump fever taking over in 2016.
“I was like, ‘Hey, there’s a problem here. Trump is really connected,'” he said.
“And I joked that his signs became like the state flower – and you see that everywhere – and I’m like, ‘I’m not really sure,’ because everybody thought that it was in the bag, but that’s not the energy and the other kinds of things that were really consistent with what I’m witnessing all across,” the lawmaker continued. “And then, sadly, we saw what happened.”
In another exchange, Fetterman said he’s heard people critical of Trump say they’re voting for him.
“I know some people that like, ‘I personally think he’s a terrible person,’ or ‘I’m appalled by some of these things, but I fundamentally think that you know I’ll still vote for him,’ and I think a lot of Republicans already agree with that.”
FETTERMAN: Many Pennsylvanians dislike Trump's character but will vote for him. And I disagree with our party's approach of calling Trump a "convicted felon." We are supposed to be all about "second chances." I knew those trials wouldn't work.pic.twitter.com/XsRWnDhZY6
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 23, 2024
He added that he didn’t agree with Democrats’ approach labeling Trump a convicted felon because “I thought Democrats we were the party that was all about second chances and that we’re not going to condemn somebody based on mistakes.”
The senator also noted he’s sensing the numerous attacks on Trump have energized GOP Pennsylvanian voters.
“I also want people to understand you know, and it’s not science, but there is energy and there’s kinds of anger on the ground in Pennsylvania and people are very committed and strong. Trump is going to be strong, and that’s we… we have to respect that. We don’t… can’t even understand it, and it’s not like a science that can explain it, but but you have to just know that it’s real.”
Despite acknowledging the groundswell of support for Trump, Fetterman went on to predict Kamala will win.
Trump will reportedly return to Butler, Pa., on Oct. 5.
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