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Top Story

1. Will Fetterman’s Debate Struggles Actually Matter?

As the audience gathered at The Square Cafe in Pittsburgh, they were ready for a party.

But as the night wore on and John Fetterman’s halting, tentative debate performance came to a conclusion, more questions were raised than glasses.

“It’s a shame,” one (supporter) said. “The reality is just because he has this medical condition and it impacts his life does not mean he’s not a smart person.” (BBC)

Related

What The PA Media Is Saying About The Senate Debate. “The halting performance of Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat who had a stroke in May, dominated coverage of his debate with Dr. Mehmet Oz in their pivotal race.” (NY Times)

• Fetterman Not Set Up For Success During Debate With Oz: Stroke Experts. (PennLive)
• PA Senate Race Driven By Personality, But Missing Policy Plans. (The Center Square)

Dr. Oz’s Awful Answer On Abortion. “Mehmet Oz had to know the question was coming. Which makes what he said even worse.” (CNN)

• Fetterman Says He ‘Always Supported Fracking.’ Here’s a Look At His Past Statements. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Fetterman’s Debate Struggles Left Democratic Insiders Shaken But Still Hopeful. “When one Pennsylvania Democratic operative got on a call Wednesday morning, his out-of-state clients didn’t want to talk about their own campaigns. They were asking about John Fetterman.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

‘A Lens of Empathy’: Disability Advocates On Fetterman and Leadership. “After Tuesday’s Senate debate, activists describe their career experiences and the standards by which we judge competence” (The Guardian)

Harrisburg

2. Impeachment Articles Filed Against Philly DA Krasner

Articles of impeachment were filed Wednesday by Pennsylvania House Republicans against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

The announcement was made in Harrisburg during a press conference headed by Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin).

“I believe the people of Philadelphia are no longer free,” said the House Majority Leader. “Day after day, when I see the news of constantly increasing violence in Philly, I think it’s time to say enough is enough. Philadelphia citizens are prisoners of fear.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

PA Republicans Move To Impeach Philadelphia’s Progressive Prosecutor. “Pennsylvania Republicans announced Wednesday plans to impeach and potentially remove from office Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a national leader among progressive prosecutors who was overwhelmingly re-elected last year.” (NBC News)

Republican Lawmaker Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Philly DA Larry Krasner. “A Republican state lawmaker from Philadelphia introduced articles of impeachment against District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday, days after the committee investigating Krasner’s office released a report blaming his policies for rising crime in the state’s largest city.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Philly DA Larry Krasner Could Be Impeached. Here’s What You Should Know. “Why are House Republicans seeking to impeach Larry Krasner, and how does that process work?” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

3. U.S. House Preview: PA-11

It will be incumbent Republican Lloyd Smucker against Democratic challenger Bob Hollister in the race for PA-11, comprising Lancaster and York counties. (PoliticsPA)

Related

New Poll Shows Shapiro Widening Lead, Fetterman Lead Steady Before Debate. “Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s lead in the governor’s race over state Sen. Doug Mastriano widened in the last month, according to a new Franklin & Marshall College Poll released Wednesday.” (Times-Tribune)

• F&M Poll Shows Tale of Two Races, With Shapiro Soaring But Senate Race Still Effectively Tied. (LNP | Lancaster Online)
• Still a Toss-Up For Senate, Governor’s Race Likely Democrat. (POLITICO)

PA-09: Pence Coming to Plains Twp. Fundraiser For Meuser. “Former Vice President Mike Pence is coming to Isabella Restaurant & Bar in Plains Twp. on Thursday for a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser.” (Times-Tribune)

With Election Looming, PA Democrats Raise Alarms On Social Security, Medicare. “After months in which concerns about abortion have dominated Democrats’ election rhetoric, the party is taking up a new issue in the final weeks before the general election: the fate of Social Security and Medicare.” (WESA)

Around The Commonwealth

Bill To Simplify Medical Insurance in PA Heads to Wolf’s Desk. “Pennsylvania state lawmakers have passed a bill that supporters say will make it easier for doctors to treat patients by streamlining how they work with health insurers.” (WITF)

PA Voters Not Reading From Their Assigned Scripts. “Voters in two districts have a chance to decide control of Congress this fall. They’re inundated with ads and speeches. Yet interviews in those districts in Ohio and Pennsylvania found many voters not necessarily thinking through the issues as their parties would prefer.” (NPR)

‘Trend That Jawn’ Highlights Political Issues That Matter To Young Philadelphians. “As Election Day draws closer and closer, voting advocates came to Philadelphia City Hall Wednesday to stress the importance that young and new voters have at the polls.” (WHYY)

Early Voting Soars in Westmoreland County. “Exceeding expectations, nearly 22,000 Westmoreland County voters already have cast ballots with less than two weeks to go before the Nov. 8 general election.” (Tribune-Review)

PA ACLU Details Concerns About Mail-In Ballots In Letter to County Election Officials. “The ACLU of Pennsylvania is raising concerns about mail-in ballots after receiving reports of some issues in Allegheny County.” (WESA)

• SD 18: Lisa Boscola vs. John Merhottein. (Armchair Lehigh Valley)
• A Complete Guide For Berks Voters. (Reading Eagle)

Opinion

• Fetterman Deserves Our Respect, Not Ridicule, After Senate Debate. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Fetterman vs. Oz Is Not Really Fetterman vs. Oz. (Gail Collins)
• Under Fire: Oz, Fetterman Debate Shows Why There Should Be More of Them. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Why Young Voters Are More Likely to Skip the Midterm Elections Than The Presidential Races. (Jan Leighley)
• After PA’s Only Senate Debate, What’s Next For Oz, Fetterman and the Voters. (John Baer)
• The Debate Was Cruelty In Real Time. (Christine Flowers)
• Oz Will Win The PA Senate Race After Debate With Fetterman. (Andy Bloom)
• Did Fetterman-Oz Debate Change Any Minds? (Tribune-Review)
• Not All Shapiro’s Positions Would Fly In Central PA, But Some Would. (Bill Gindlesperger)
• Is Ye, Kanye West, The New Face of Black Conservatism? How About Herschel Walker? (Clarence Page)