The brash and unconventional style that made John Fetterman a national name is now putting his Democratic colleague, Bob Casey Jr., in an awkward position — just as the three-term incumbent faces his toughest-ever campaign.
The two senators from Pennsylvania, at times, appear to be from different worlds. Fetterman, in his traditional hoodie and shorts, is adept at making his way into a headline, whether that’s for mocking progressive protesters or ridiculing an indicted colleague. Casey, the son of a beloved former governor, prefers traditional suits and a quieter demeanor.
Since Fetterman joined the Senate last year, Casey has been forced to grapple with the conspicuous differences in tone and substance between himself and his colleague. That’s been especially true when the state’s junior senator bucks his party in a way that angers progressives while impressing Republicans. Even when the two men agree, such as on Israel’s war in Gaza, Fetterman’s rhetoric often goes further than Casey’s, overshadowing the senior senator in a way his critics contend makes him look tame and ideologically rigid by comparison.