Fetterman-Oz in statistical dead heat heading into home stretch of Senate campaign

With 40 days until Election Day, John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz are in a statistical dead heat for the state’s U.S. Senate seat.

Multiple polls released in the past few days show Oz, the celebrity heart doctor and Republican candidate, still trailing Fetterman, the state’s lieutenant governor and Democratic candidate, but by mere points that fall within the polls’ margin of error.

An Emerson College Polling-The Hill survey released Friday has Fetterman leading Oz, 45% to 43%. The poll has a margin of error of plus-minus 3 percentage points.

A month ago, Fetterman led Oz by 4 points in a separate Emerson-The Hill poll.

A Franklin & Marshall College poll released Thursday showed Fetterman with a 45% to 42% edge over Oz. That is substantially closer than an August survey by the college that found Fetterman with a 45% to 36% edge. The latest poll is based on interviews conducted Sept. 19-25. It has a sample error of plus-minus 5.6 percentage points.

On Wednesday, a Fox News poll showed Fetterman leading Oz, 45% to 41% — down from an 11 percentage point lead in late July.

The poll had a plus-minus 3 percentage point sample error, leaving Oz on the cusp of a statistical dead heat.

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• Oz campaign places billboard in Braddock attacking Fetterman
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The latest polls continue a trend of Oz narrowing the gap with Fetterman, who has come under criticism of late. A couple of weeks ago, the Washington Post editorial board backed Oz’s call for Fetterman to agree to a debate — they since have agreed to an Oct. 25 debate — and criticized Fetterman for lacking transparency about his health problems associated with his stroke recovery, mirroring Oz’s rhetoric on the issue.

Fetterman had a stroke just before the May primary.

The Philadelphia Inquirer also noted how Republicans believe Oz’s attacks on Fetterman over rising crime and whether his criminal justice reform efforts have been effective have placed Fetterman on the defensive for the first time in the race.

Oz and Fetterman are scheduled to make appearances in Pittsburgh on Friday and Saturday. Oz is holding a news event with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh, on Friday afternoon in Downtown Pittsburgh, and Fetterman is holding a rally Saturday in the Strip District.