The presidential election is going to come down to the wire. Kamala Harris isn’t prepared to deal with that kind of stress.
And the Harris campaign is shaking in fear after this Leftist Senator issues a stark election warning.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) delivered a warning to his fellow Democrats, urging them not to dismiss former President Donald Trump’s deep-rooted influence in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state that Vice President Kamala Harris is eager to win in the upcoming election.
Speaking at the Atlantic Festival on Thursday, Fetterman forecasted a tighter race than some Democrats might expect. He stressed that Trump’s hold over his supporters has only grown stronger, especially after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in the state just two months ago.
“Trump has created a special kind of a hold … and he’s remade the party, and he has a special kind of place in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman explained. “And I think that only deepened after that first assassination attempt.”
Fetterman reflected on the shock waves that hit Democrats in 2016 when Trump defied expectations and flipped Pennsylvania red, defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It was a pivotal moment, marking the first time a Republican candidate won the state since 1988.
“Everybody thought it was in the bag,” Fetterman recalled.
As a campaign surrogate for Clinton during the 2016 race, Fetterman had seen firsthand the groundswell of support Trump garnered in Pennsylvania. He shared a vivid memory of seeing Trump’s campaign signs dominate the landscape.
“I joked, his signs became like the state flower — you see them everywhere,” he quipped.
Now, as Election Day looms, Fetterman warned his party that the same fervor for Trump still exists.
“I also want people to understand, you know, and it’s not science, but there’s energy, and there’s kinds of anger on the ground in Pennsylvania, and people are very committed,” Fetterman said. “Trump is going to be strong and … we have to respect that.”
Fetterman, known for his maverick persona within the Democratic Party, has gained national attention not just for his blunt political style but also for his personal struggles. After surviving a stroke during his 2022 Senate campaign and openly battling depression, he’s become a symbol of resilience in the Party.
But his surprise stance on the war in Gaza has also drawn attention. His strong support for Israel has caught many on the Left off guard.
Despite breaking with Vice President Harris on issues like arms support for Israel — she suggested “withholding weapons or armaments” could be an option, while Fetterman insists on giving Israel “whatever they need” — the Pennsylvania senator remains firmly behind her in the race against Trump.
Still, Fetterman cautioned Democrats not to grow complacent. While many in the party were energized by Harris’s strong performance in her debate with Trump earlier this month, Fetterman reminded them of the lessons from 2016.
And even though Clinton “wrecked” Trump in their debates according to Fetterman, he still managed to capture Pennsylvania and ultimately the presidency.
Fetterman also criticized one of the Democratic Party’s tactics: focusing on Trump’s criminal convictions to dissuade voters. He expressed discomfort with this approach, pointing to the party’s core principles. “I thought, as Democrats, we were the party that was all about second chances and that we will not condemn somebody based on mistakes,” Fetterman remarked.
While he remains a vocal supporter of Harris, campaigning for her across Pennsylvania, Fetterman balanced his praise with a dose of realism. He described Harris as “competent and successful” and “an amazing candidate overall,” but was quick to temper enthusiasm with a warning.
Even as a New York Times poll showed Harris leading Trump by four points in Pennsylvania, Fetterman struck a cautious tone during his Atlantic Festival appearance. “When you have 25,000 people show up at a rally in Butler, I said that on social media, this is not a five-point race,” he said. “It will be close.”
As Election Day draws nearer, Fetterman’s message is clear: Democrats must take Trump’s influence seriously if they want to secure Pennsylvania and win the White House. If not, they could be in for a devastating defeat.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
