For Fetterman, Campaign Trail Doubles as Road to Recovery
WASP, which supports families affected by child abuse, will hold a series of events around the globe in support of the Fetterman campaign.
When David Fetterman walked into the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon with what he called his “best-case case,” it didn’t take long for a debate over his mental health to enter the discussion. Over the next hour, he was eviscerated by Republicans on both sides of the aisle, and the attacks were echoed when he exited the building.
The senator from Kentucky was asked whether he was mentally fit for office, to which Fetterman responded emphatically: “Absolutely not.” He was asked why he thought his candidacy was merited given that he had not previously served in the Senate.
“I’ve only been here eight years,” Fetterman replied. “That’s longer than I’ve been alive.”
It is difficult to tell whether he was being sarcastic. It is difficult, for that matter, to tell what exactly Fetterman’s experience in the Senate actually amounted to. Since he was first elected to the upper chamber in 2006, he has been dogged by accusations of inappropriate behavior and infighting among his staff and allies in the Republican caucus. But he also has the kind of résumé more commonly associated with the lower chamber; at the time of his first election, he served as a legislative aide. Before his election he had worked on Capitol Hill for more than 20 years, with stints at both the Senate and House.
His mental health is an important question at this point in his campaign. His diagnosis is unknown, but he has claimed he has been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder (MPD), and he has spent much of the past week in California at a rehabilitation facility with another MPD diagnosis. If he can overcome that diagnosis, he could enter the race with an advantage in the polls.
But more important than whether or not he is fit for the office is the larger question of how to best position him during his candidacy. In particular,