(CNSNews.com) - Admitting the obvious, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told CNN on Wednesday that yes, the John Fetterman-Mehmet Oz debate was "hard to watch," given Fetterman's obvious stroke-induced infirmities.
But Coons was nevertheless optimistic that Fetterman, a Democrat known for his hoodies and sweatpants, will be elected in a close race, once Pennsylvanians turn their attention away from the World Series and the "surging Eagles."
"I watched the debate last night. It was hard to watch, frankly," Coons said:
"I know both candidates. And I recently had a chance to campaign with John Fetterman. And I think at the end of the day, first, the Philadelphia area is going to follow the World Series. And the surging Eagles. And then they're going to return to focusing on this campaign.
"And at the end of the day, they've got a pretty stark choice between John Fetterman, who looked uncomfortable in a suit and tie. Whose answers were at times halting. But who is authentic and who will fight for working families in Pennsylvania. And who's got a real and strong record as lieutenant governor and mayor to run on.
"And they will contrast that with Mehmet Oz, who looked very comfortable in a tailored suit, who's very good on television. But who made clear his positions on a few issues -- the one you just mentioned, he said clearly, a choice, reproductive rights choice by women should also include elected officials. And that's going to be one of the stark, I think, defining issues of this campaign.
"Does the average Pennsylvanian look for someone who is a life-long Pennsylvanian who was knocked down by a stroke and is going to get back up and fight for them? Or do they want someone who is outside of Pennsylvania and comfortable on television and someone who is more aligned with Donald Trump than with what might be the values of Pennsylvania? I think this will be very close call, it will come down to the last few days.
"When I watched, frankly, the 2016 presidential debates, I thought it was obvious that Donald Trump wasn't going to win. His answers were halting and he didn't understand the issues and he was combative and aggressive. But millions of Americans voted for him because they liked his attitude, they liked his authenticity.
"My gut hunch is a lot of Pennsylvanians, when they see John Fetterman in his hoodie and his sweat pants and look at the record of what he's done in Braddock and as lieutenant governor, will choose him over someone, frankly, who us very polished on television but has positions like abortion that are outside the mainstream of what Pennsylvanians will vote for."
Social media lit up during and after Fetterman's debate difficulties, with some blaming his wife and staff for allowing him to remain in the race; others comparing him to Joe Biden, who routinely suffers public lapses of comprehension; and still others declaring "race over," two weeks before all the votes -- many of them cast before the debate -- are counted.
Democrats, including Fetterman, are already fund-raising off Oz's response to an abortion question, which aligns with the Supreme Court ruling to let the individual states decide:
Here's what Oz said: “I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that's always allowed our nation to thrive, to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves."