Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman faced a barrage of questions about fracking during a Sunday interview on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ deflecting criticism aimed at both himself and Vice President Kamala Harris for their evolving stances on the controversial energy practice.
When pressed about Harris’ recent shift from supporting a fracking ban during her 2020 presidential bid to her current vow against such a ban, Fetterman dismissed the issue’s significance. “It’s so strange why we keep talking about fracking,” he stated, arguing that it’s not a defining issue in the upcoming election. This comes as Harris continues to face scrutiny for her change of heart on fracking, a topic that has become increasingly divisive in the political landscape.
Instead of engaging directly with the fracking issue, Fetterman chose to counterattack, focusing on his opponents’ alleged inflammatory statements about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. He accused former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance of making “absurd things” and engaging in “serious policy conversation” while the other side is “absolutely on fire.”
However, Fetterman himself has faced accusations of hypocrisy regarding fracking, with NBC News highlighting his past comments. In 2016, he called fracking a “stain” on Pennsylvania, and in 2018 he claimed he didn’t “support fracking at all.” But by 2022, he had seemingly changed his tune, stating that he “absolutely” supported fracking.
During the interview, Fetterman brushed off the contrasting quotes, labeling them as “gotcha” tactics. “I fully support fracking and so does Vice President Harris,” he declared, swiftly shifting back to criticizing the Republican ticket over their alleged inflammatory statements about Haitian migrants.
Pennsylvania, Fetterman’s home state, is a critical battleground in the upcoming election. Fracking remains popular there, and the state’s vote is considered pivotal in determining the outcome. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016, but President Biden secured a similarly narrow victory in 2020.
Fetterman acknowledged the close race between Trump and Harris, but he downplayed the role of fracking in the state’s outcome. Recent polls indicate that Harris holds a slim lead in Pennsylvania, with an average of 48.3% support compared to Trump’s 47.6%. This close contest highlights the importance of every vote in the state, especially in a race where the outcome could hinge on a few key issues, including the contentious topic of fracking.
