NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 09: Dr. Oz visits "Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner" at Fox News Channel Studios on March 09, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Television talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz has reportedly begun assembling a team for a potential bid for Pennsylvania’s open United States Senate seat as a Republican in 2022, although no official announcement has been made.
Incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey (R) announced his retirement last year.
“Since last year, Dr. Oz has lived and voted in Pennsylvania where he attended school and has deep family ties. Dr. Oz has received encouragement to run for the U.S. Senate, but is currently focused on our show and has no announcement at this time,” a spokesperson for the celebrity told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday.
Should he choose to run, Oz would face a crowded primary field of GOP outsiders and political novices, and his status as a known brand could give him a substantial edge over the other candidates.
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Whoever wins the Republican primary would likely square off against John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s popular Democratic lieutenant governor and a frontrunner for his party’s nomination, or Rep. Conor Lamb. Fetterman has already raised approximately $10 million in 2021 alone.
The GOP’s surprise upset win in Virginia’s gubernatorial race earlier this month, however, has some operatives looking optimistically at next year’s contest.
Oz along with his documented history of shelling out questionable medical advice – including having advocated for keeping schools open during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic – may struggle to be taken seriously by voters and the top brass within the GOP. Likewise, Democrats may end up having a field day with comments such as these:
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