In most ways, Pennsylvania’s Senate debate Tuesday night between Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Republican, and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, will look like what viewers expect: two candidates in a television studio standing behind lecterns, in this case made of clear plastic — one red and one blue.
But to accommodate Mr. Fetterman’s recovery from a stroke in May, the campaigns agreed to add something to the set: two large monitors, a few feet above the heads of the two moderators. Professional typists who usually create closed captions for the hearing-impaired will transcribe in real time the questions and Dr. Oz’s statements for Mr. Fetterman to read.
Mr. Fetterman speaks “intelligently without cognitive deficits,” according to a statement by his doctor that the campaign released on Oct. 15. But he continues to have symptoms of what his doctor called an auditory processing disorder that “can come across as hearing difficulty.”
Dr. Oz, of course, will also see the monitors, and viewers may catch glimpses of them when the moderators appear on camera.
The debate’s host, WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, is expected to explain the setup to viewers before the debate begins.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
