Donald Trump (left), Dr. Oz.Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty; Noel Vasquez/Getty
Former PresidentDonald Trumphas endorsedDr. Mehmet Ozin the latter’s race for a Pennsylvania Senate seat, saying in a statement released over the weekend that the move “is all about winning elections in order to stop the Radical Left maniacs from destroying our Country.”
Even so, the support roiled some loyalists and may continue to test the limits of Trump’s appeal to the larger Republican base.
Pollsso far indicateOz is in a close race against hedge fund executive Dave McCormick (and others) for the party nomination.
In his endorsement this weekend, Trump, 75, said he had “known Dr. Oz for many years, as have many others, even if only through his very successful television show. He has lived with us through the screen and has always been popular, respected and smart.”
Speaking at a rally in North Carolina , Trump elaborated on his decision — the latest in his string of endorsements, some successful and some not — calling Oz, 61, a “great guy, good man.”
“Harvard-educated, tremendous, tremendous career and they liked him for a long time. That’s like a poll,” Trump told the crowd,The Washington Postreports. “You know, when you’re in television for 18 years, that’s like a poll. That means people like you.”
Some reports suggested that Trump’sdecision to endorse Ozover McCormick (who has staffed his campaign withmany former Trump aides, including Hope Hicks) may have been the result of his wife, former First LadyMelania Trump.
Another Trump ally, Fox News host Sean Hannity, also recentlyendorsed Oz.
Dr. Mehmet Oz.Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
Still, not everyone that is a fan of the former president is a fan of Oz.
Parnelltweeted following the endorsementto express his disappointment: “Oz is the antithesis of everything that made Trump the best president of my lifetime—he’s the farthest thing from America First & he’d be very bad for PA.”
Democratic candidates running for the seat include Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor,John Fetterman.
Oz officially announced hisrun for Senatein November, writing in an op-ed forThe Washington Examinerthat he wanted to “help fix the problems and to help us heal.”
A spokesperson forThe Dr. Oz Showearlier told PEOPLE: “Since last year, Dr. Oz has lived and voted in Pennsylvania where he attended school and has deep family ties.”
After he launched his campaign, Sony confirmed thatThe Dr. Oz Showwould come to an end in January, at which time his daughterDaphne Oz’s show,The Good Dish,began to fill his slot.
source: people.com
