Oz gains on Fetterman in PA Senate race: poll

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz is rising in the polls against his Democratic rival, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, and has nearly overcome his opponent in one recent survey.

Oz took 43% support from very likely voters, compared to 45% who backed Fetterman in an Emerson College/The Hill poll, released Thursday. While Fetterman retained a lead, the poll's margin of error is +/- 3%, meaning the race is a statistical dead heat.

Moreover, Oz has cut his opponent's lead in half since the poll's August iteration, matching a general trend across other polls showing improvement for the Trump-backed health personality.

The RealClearPolitics polling average showed Fetterman still leading by 4.1% on Friday. On Aug. 31, that lead was 6.5%.

Despite Oz's gains, Pennsylvania voters still expect the lieutenant governor to claim the Senate seat by a 55% to 45% margin, per the survey. The winner will replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who took office after winning election in 2016, but declined to seek reelection.

The survey also asked about Fetterman's recent stroke and Oz's longtime residence in New Jersey.

While 59% of voters said the Democrat's health scare would not affect their vote, 27% said it made them less likely to back him, while 14% said they were more likely to support the lieutenant governor.

Of Oz's residence, 47% said it did not matter, while 39% said it made them less likely to back him, and 14% said it made them more likely to support the Republican.