Washington, D.C. – Democrat Pennsylvania State Rep. and long-shot U.S. Senate candidate Malcom Kenyatta is helping shine a light on primary challenger Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s checkered past. Kenyatta’s campaign recently released an internal poll showing that Fetterman’s lead in the Democratic primary weakens when voters are reminded about a 2013 incident where Fetterman pulled a gun on an unarmed black jogger.
As the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, “Kenyatta does markedly better — tying Fetterman — when voters are given more biographical information on the candidates, including criticisms likely to be lobbed at them during the race… Fetterman’s [statement] recounts an incident in which he was armed and detained a Black jogger he suspected of a shooting.”
Kenyatta’s campaign had just $319,000 on-hand as of October filings and few expect him to seriously contend for the nomination next year. However, the campaign’s internal polling shows how fragile support for Fetterman truly is in the state.
Statement from NRSC Spokeswoman Lizzie Litzow: “John Fetterman cannot outrun his checkered past with Pennsylvanian voters. They are clearly rejecting Fetterman when they are reminded of the 2013 incident when he pulled a gun on an unarmed black jogger. If Kenyatta, who is a long-shot candidate, can tie Fetterman after voters are reminded of this incident then he should definitely be worried come 2022.”
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