Dr. Mehmet Oz stumps in Westmoreland County in quest for U.S. Senate

Dr. Mehmet Oz enthralled a room full of potential Westmoreland County voters Wednesday as he works to make his mark in a crowded field of candidates vying to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate.

The meet-and-greet event, held in a small room at Giannilli’s II in Unity where few attendees wore face coverings, attracted about 265 people hoping not only to see the celebrity doctor but also to hear his stance on political issues. He announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in November.

“The reason I entered the race, the reason you’re here today, is probably because, like me, you sit there in the morning staring at the ceiling saying, ‘What happened? What happened to our country?’ Because we were doing so well, and all of a sudden things got upside down,” Oz said. “I don’t understand how that happened, and that’s part of the challenge here.”

Speaking to a group largely composed of Republican voters, he quickly centered himself among key conservative values, stating that he is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. Oz, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Turkey, addressed the border and illegal immigration, saying that people have to come to America legally while largely calling for voter identification during elections.

Oz, a heart surgeon, said his goal in entering the race is to focus on what is happening in the country and how to address it.

“I began to realize that Washington has gotten it wrong, in ways we never imagined, and covid accelerated it all,” Oz said. “Let me take two seconds on covid to give you some insights about why this was a complete catastrophe, and I’m speaking as someone who understands the medical side of this really well. What happened during covid is an example of how the federal government fails.”

He continued, saying that the federal government censored and silenced Americans with their own ideas on how to handle the pandemic. He said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, “failed us.” Oz this month called for Fauci to be fired and challenged him to a debate.

“The answer to every problem out of Washington was always the vaccine,” Oz said. “What was the first thing they did when omicron was surging back this winter? Boost the children. Boost the children — are you kidding me? Have you ever looked at the data on how safe children are if they’ve been vaccinated? Even if they’re not, they’re pretty safe.”

Oz’s stance on covid-related issues played a key role for several attendees, some of whom said they were charmed by his charismatic nature, which easily connected him with the crowd.

County resident Beverly Klanchar said she trusts his opinion on covid, noting that she has watched his “Dr. Oz Show” on television for 12 years.

“He is very knowledgeable about the medical system, being in it probably over 30 years, and I want to trust someone to help make the system better, and I can’t think of anyone better than him,” Klanchar said.

Alec Eastburn, 22, of Fort Myers, Fla., said he came off the Appalachian Trail to attend the event.

“I feel like he has the wiseness and experience as a doctor to run the country,” Eastburn said. “Maybe like Donald Trump with the business manager background, but now a doctor background to help fix the covid issues and maybe have a better look at recreational drugs and CBD and all that.”

When Oz announced his candidacy, questions were raised regarding his Pennsylvania residency. Oz has lived in New Jersey for decades, but he said Wednesday he now lives in Philadelphia with his wife.

“I’m proud to be back home in Pennsylvania,” he said. “I grew up just south of Philadelphia. The most important and best day of my life was to marry my wife, Lisa, in Philadelphia, the home I live in now. We moved a couple years ago, but we’ve been continuing back and forth my whole life. It’s a fantastic state.”

Oz, who was born in Cleveland, spent much of his childhood in Wilmington, Del., according to an article on DelawareOnline.com regarding his father’s 2019 death. He earned his medical degree and a master of business administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Oz is among a pool of 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats seeking to replace U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey. The Lehigh Valley Republican is not seeking reelection.

The highly contested race could bring a lot of action to Westmoreland County, which quickly established itself as a key asset during the presidential election. Bill Bretz, chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee, said the county has seen a large shift recently in moderate Democrats switching to the Republican Party.

“I think that we’re a good bellwether for people to look at,” Bretz said. “If a message resonates here, it’s likely to play well across the commonwealth.”

What will make a candidate stand out to voters, Bretz said, is their stance on conservative issues as well as their ability to advocate for Pennsylvania on an economic front.

“We also need somebody who has the experience and the presence to navigate the waters of Washington and to be effective as well,” he said. “I think we are blessed with a very diverse group of people who are all very capable in their own lights. We’ve got the difficult decision here over the coming months to vet those folks and make the best choice for Pennsylvania.”

Although Oz’s candidacy has been met with some pushback from voters, those who attended Wednesday’s event seemed to be on board with him moving forward in the race.

After his meet-and-greet, the crowd pushed toward Oz, hoping for a chance to get a photo with him. One woman called out, “Dr. Oz for president.”