It’s quite a triumph for Mehmet Oz. John Fetterman’s home county newspaper endorsed his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz. It’s not just any newspaper, it’s the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a newspaper that rarely endorses Republicans.

The paper did endorse Donald Trump in 2020 – the first Republican candidate endorsement since 1972. It did so because of Trump’s economic and trade records. The reason for the Oz endorsement is Fetterman’s refusal to release his medical records.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette publishes in heavily-Democratic Allegheny County. Allegheny County is the location of Fetterman’s adopted hometown of Braddock. The newspaper torched Fetterman. The endorsement refers to Fetterman’s “lack of transparency” over his medical records and said that it “suggests an impulse to conceal and a mistrust of the people.” The paper also noted Fetterman’s lack of experience in holding real jobs. Ouch!

A retired cardiothoracic surgeon, Mr. Oz, 62, led the Emmy-Award winning Dr. Oz show for 13 years. Mr. Fetterman, 53, has one-term as Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, a job with few official responsibilities, aside from serving as acting governor whenever the governor leaves the state. He is the former mayor of Braddock, a borough of 2,000 residents. Although the job paid $150 a month, Mr. Fetterman could make it, in effect, a full-time position because of his family’s support.

Mr. Fetterman’s health — he suffered a serious stroke in May — is not the issue. His lack of transparency, however, in refusing to release his medical records is troubling. It suggests an impulse to conceal and a mistrust of the people. All candidates for a major elected office should release their medical records, as did Mr. Oz. If you want privacy, don’t run for public office.

Mr. Fetterman’s life experience and maturity are also concerns. He has lived off his family’s money for much of his life. That has allowed him to do some good things, including mentoring disadvantaged young people and working to improve community policing and economic development in Braddock. That work, along with his six-foot-eight frame, shaved head and tattoos, attracted national media attention. Still, Mr. Fetterman, despite his hoodies and shorts, has little experience in holding real jobs or facing the problems of working people.

It is, of course, ridiculous that Fetterman will not release his medical records. He points to the green light his general practitioner gives him to run for office and, if elected, serve. I’m sure he doesn’t want his health difficulties splashed across the news cycle but, that’s too bad. Fetterman signed on to this gig and his loss of personal privacy was part of the deal.

Naturally, Oz is thrilled with the newspaper endorsement.

Oz called the Post-Gazette a “fabulous paper” that would not normally endorse a Republican. “But God bless them… they’ve had enough as well – they’re a big paper in Pittsburgh.”

Oz noted that there is no state north of North Carolina with a non-retiring Republican senator. Pennsylvania has had at least one Republican senator for decades. The retiring Republican senator, Pat Toomey, is from Allentown. Either Oz or Fetterman will be the junior senator from Pennsylvania to Democrat Senator Bob Casey, Jr.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette describes Fetterman as a spoiled man-child who has lived off his family’s wealth and accomplished little that would provide real world experience to justify being elected as a U.S. senator. He is the current lt. governor of the state and does not appear to have any accomplishments in that position.

Two other Pennsylvania races are toss-ups, likely due to the red wave that is on the horizon, thanks to Bidenflation, rising crime rates, and a general malaise felt by voters. Voters are ready to toss the Democrats out and take a chance on Republicans in places that have been solidly Democrat in past elections.

A key House race, the Allentown-centric 7th District is also home to a nearly tied race between Democratic incumbent Rep. Susan Wild and Republican businesswoman Lisa Scheller. A Muhlenberg College poll taken earlier this month has that race separated by one point.

Just north of that district, the Pocono-centric 8th district originally home to President Biden and currently represented by Democrat Matt Cartwright is rated a “toss-up” by Cook Political Report.

In keeping with his commitment to reach out to all voters, tonight Oz will host a campaign event at a firehouse in Bucks County, a true swing county in recent election cycles. Real Clear Politics aggregated averaging has Fetterman up by 1.5 points and labels the race as a toss-up. Oz can win this race, something that was not at all expected when he won the GOP nomination. In one week we’ll know if he closed the deal or not.

*Correction: I mistakenly linked Senator Bob Casey, Jr. with the Supreme Court case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey. That was his father. I’ve removed that sentence. – Karen