Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania is working hard to help Vice President Kamala Harris win the state’s 19 electoral votes. However, he can’t help but be amazed by the immense support for Donald Trump that he observes throughout his state.
Driving through Chester County on Route 23, Fetterman spotted a decorated pickup truck proudly promoting Trump’s candidacy. He can’t shake the feeling that Trump has an extraordinary connection with the people of Pennsylvania. “It’s real,” he told the New York Times, acknowledging that even though Democrats might not get it, they can’t ignore it. “It’s astonishing.”
Fetterman also shared an experience that occurred in Indiana County, a deeply red area. He saw a massive display of Trump merchandise that stretched a hundred feet long, filled with T-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers. He marveled, “Where does this all come from? It’s the kind of thing that has taken on its own life.” Fetterman also said that there’s something very special about it. While he doesn’t necessarily admire this phenomenon, he can’t deny its power.
In the past, Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016 by 44,292 votes but lost it in 2020 by 80,555. The upcoming 2024 race looks tight, with several polls showing Trump leading Harris by narrow margins. Betting markets reflect this excitement, giving Trump a 63% chance of winning Pennsylvania and a 66.5% chance of winning the overall election, while Harris stands at 33.7%.
Fetterman is also impressed by the influence of Elon Musk, who has been sharing the stage with Trump and even giving away prizes to swing-state voters. He likened Musk to a superhero, saying that many people feel he’s Tony Stark—the world’s richest guy—saying, ‘Hey, that’s my guy for president.’ “That’s really going to matter.”
On immigration, Fetterman expressed his pro-immigration stance but emphasized the need for a secure border. He scolded his fellow Democrats for overlooking the realities of a high number of immigrants. “It’s not working out,” he said, adding, that there should be a plan to supporting them, but we need to figure out “where do those resources come from?”
Fetterman concluded his interview by confidently predicting that while he believes Trump will lose, it’s going to be a nail-biter of an election. “It’s going to be much, much closer than anyone would want.”
