Senate front-runner in PA embraces Biden and progressive agenda amid Democrats' midterm dilemma
In the Pennsylvania US Senate Democratic primary, Fetterman dominates in polls and fundraising.https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/21/politics/john-fetterman-pennsylvania-democrats-senate/index.html
Jennerstown, Pennsylvania (CNN) Lt. Gov. John Fetterman swung by the heart of Republican country in Southwestern Pennsylvania, in the reddest of red districts, where then-President Donald Trump trounced Joe Biden by more than 55 points and MAGA signs are still apparent on seemingly every other street corner. But rather than moderate, Fetterman leaned into his progressive views.
As he worked a few dozen voters at the Flyin' Lion watering hole, while wearing a hooded sweatshirt, basketball shorts and gym shoes on a snowy spring day, Fetterman renewed his push for marijuana to be legalized nationwide, touted the role of immigrants in the US, called for the transgender community to be treated equally, decried efforts to pare back abortion access and backed calls for stricter gun laws, including a ban on semi-automatic rifles.
In an interview with CNN, Fetterman didn't hide his palpable frustration with Democratic senators, saying, "I am disappointed in our caucus" for not increasing the $7.25 federal minimum wage, and he blamed West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin for blocking the Biden agenda, leaving his party "floundering."
When asked about calls for more bipartisanship, Fetterman didn't flinch, asserting there's little common ground in working with Republicans who undermined the legitimacy of Biden's 2020 victory and tried to outlaw abortion. "I also want a full head of hair," said the bald, 6-foot-8 Democrat. "But realistically that's not going to happen right now."
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Republicans are going to use every dirty trick in the book to flail Fettermen once the GE begins. For instance, the man cannot use the 'I'll know it when I see it' line without a punch back or a claim that he's simply unprepared for the national stage.
Fetterman held his own but he needs to sharpen his answers, think about strong comeback lines while holding fast to his positions. The jogger incident is going to comeback again and again. Kenyatta went right for it and landed punches. Fetterman needs to be ready for another round of attacks and decide how to succinctly put the incident in context. The gun violence he'd personally witnessed in Braddock? The fact that this happened on the heels of Sandy Hook massacre? Whatever he says it has to be genuine, straight from the heart, a very condensed, powerful version of what he said in his video.
We're watching this and I guarantee you the GOP is watching, noting any and all wobbles.
I want to see how Fetterman performs in round 2. Does he study/learn from round 1? Or not?
The GE is going to be far more brutal because as much as we want this seat? The GOP will kill for it (metaphorically, of course. 
Fetterman is in training now for the General Election. I want to see him use the opportunity to his best advantage because he can win this thing, the whole enchilada, simply by who he is, how he says it and his unwavering Dem creds, the working man's working man.
