Pennsylvania Democrat: Fetterman ‘nowhere to be found’

Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) said Wednesday that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was “nowhere to be found” in his home state.

In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Deluzio commented on the growing tension between Fetterman and his constituents in the Keystone State.

“My constituents and folks all over Pennsylvania are pretty frustrated with John Fetterman,” Deluzio said. “They’re pretty disappointed. I’ve been all over not just my district of Pennsylvania, trying to help us flip the most competitive congressional races. And John Fetterman is nowhere to be found.”

“And frankly, folks don’t want him on the trail. He’s spending his time, frankly, going on right-wing media to bash the Democrats,” the lawmaker stated.

Deluzio added that constituents have told him they believe Fetterman “doesn’t have the respect for the office that he occupies.”

Democrats’ long-simmering frustrations with Fetterman have only intensified in the wake of a Wall Street Journal report alleging he skipped meetings with three disabled veterans to appear on Fox News and complained about meeting with representatives from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The senator added fuel to the fire Wednesday when he appeared at Republicans’ midterm convention to introduce Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), with whom he has enjoyed a close relationship.

Reacting to the video, Deluzio said, “John Fetterman has failed the Pennsylvanians who elected him. … He’s not going to be a Senator after 2028 — mark my words,” according to a statement obtained by The Washington Sun .

Earlier this week, Deluzio told host Chris Stirewalt on NewNation’s “The Hill Sunday” that he “might” challenge Fetterman when his seat is up in 2028, but he hasn’t “decided that” and said he’s focused now on helping downballot Democratic candidates in the Keystone State.

When asked by Tapper on CNN, the Pittsburgh-area congressman said he’s “gotten a lot of encouragement to do it. I’ll make that decision when the time comes,” before reiterating “we have competitive races to win” and “that’s what I’m focused on.”

Fetterman’s moves come at a time when he is more popular among Pennsylvania Republicans than Democrats, according to a New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena University poll. 73 percent of Republicans in the state have a favorable opinion of Fetterman, while only 22 percent of Democrats view him favorably.