Former President Donald Trump surprised political experts when he endorsed Mehmet “Dr.” Oz in Pennsylvania’s crowded Republican Senate primary in April.
Trump’s backing helped Oz narrowly win the razor-thin primary election.
Since then, Oz has befuddled Trump World. His campaign was heavily criticized for distancing itself from Trump when entering the general election.
Monday, Oz. grabbed headlines when his campaign sent a controversial fundraiser message to backers.
In a text message, Oz told supporters the “MAGA MOVEMENT IS DYING.”
That’s an objectively odd message from a Trump candidate https://t.co/VcckUCVW7o
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 18, 2022
Trump said his decision to endorse Oz was “all about winning elections” after he formally backed the celebrity heart surgeon best known as the host of daytime TV’s “The Dr. Oz Show.”
Oz has lagged slightly behind rival John Fetterman in the polls but the contest remains a toss-up, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Trump made clear that electability was top of mind when he endorsed Oz. In his statement, he noted that Oz was a well-known quantity who has “lived with us through the screen and has always been popular, respected, and smart.”
“Perhaps most importantly, I believe that Mehmet Oz will be the one most able to win the General Election against a Radical Left Democrat looking to do unthinkable harm to our Country,” he added. “Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel. I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him,” he said in April.
Trump, in conversations, has often praised Oz for his positive treatment on the show. “He even said that I was in extraordinary health, which made me like him even more (although he also said I should lose a couple of pounds!),” Trump wrote in endorsement.
The full fundraising text from the Oz campaign read:
Liberals are winning the fundraising race, and the America First ProTrump movement feels defeated.
If just 7 MAGA supporters step up right here, right now, we will be able to turn things around. Our nation cannot afford for the MAGA movement to die.Friend, be a fighter for TRUMP.
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article