In 1960, people said Richard Nixon looked sweaty and had a five o’clock shadow, and there weren’t any more presidential debates for 16 years. Until recently, it wasn’t that uncommon for frontrunners in presidential primaries to blow off debates. There’s also a larger piece of context for Fetterman’s decision to show up: political candidates can be notoriously debate-averse. But supporters suggested that Fetterman’s decision to face those struggles publicly would invite empathy and understanding from anyone who had similarly struggled to overcome difficulties. Recovery from a recent stroke has made speech and auditory processing difficult for Fetterman, and that was apparent in the debate. Some pundits called it “painful to listen to,” inviting accusations of ableism and insensitivity. Fetterman’s debate against Oz in the final stretch of the campaign has sparked a lot of, well, debate.
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