Victor Davis Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, speculated on Thursday that Democrats will back Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman for the 2028 election. During the heated 2022 Senate race, although Democrats rallied around Fetterman, he faced challenges after suffering a stroke and struggled during debates with Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz. Discussing this shift on “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” co-host Jack Fowler reflected on an NBC News interview from 2022.
Fowler noted that a significant issue for Democrats is whether Fetterman truly represents the majority opinion of Pennsylvanians in the general election. “There’s a survey indicating that Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro has a hefty approval rating of 82%, while Fetterman’s is under 50%. This tells us something about his popularity within the party,” he said.
A New York magazine article, stemming from an interview with a former aide, suggests that Fetterman’s mental and physical health may be declining. An internal poll from February revealed that only 46% of Democratic voters in Pennsylvania viewed Fetterman favorably, with 49% expressing negative feelings toward him.
Hanson pointed out that once Democrats deviate from the party line, they often lose favorable media coverage and donor support. “Media support dwindles, and significant donors are advised against backing them,” he asserted.
He claimed that Democrats can easily replace Fetterman with a stronger candidate, similar to how they maneuvered during the 2020 election to promote Joe Biden over Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. “When Biden no longer served their interests, they sidelined him,” Hanson stated, suggesting that the party is more about an inner circle rather than true democracy.
Since 2023, Fetterman has taken a stand opposing his party, urging fellow Democrats and media outlets to vocalize their support for Israel amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, he faced criticism after visiting with Donald Trump and highlighting the party’s inadequate response to illegal immigration.
Following that article in New York magazine, Fetterman found little support from Pennsylvanian Democrats, who seemed to distance themselves from him.
