‘Doc Hollywood’: In A Twist, Democrats Attack A Senate Candidate, Mehmet Oz, For His Showbiz Ties

deadline.com:

In a recent ad spot from John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor running for an open U.S. Senate seat, he attacked his rival, Mehmet Oz, as “not one of us” and part of the wealthy entertainment elite.“Hey, Doc Hollywood, save your money, Pennsylvania is not for sale,” Fetterman said in the spot, as video ran of Oz, the longtime syndicated daytime TV host, kissing his star on the Walk of Fame.It’s certainly not a novel for a campaign to try to tar a rival for for Hollywood ties, but this time it’s a Democrat, Fetterman, trying to tar a Republican, Oz, for his showbiz embrace.

It’s a bit of a twist on a common campaign tactic used by the right against their leftward opponents, who have for generations enjoyed a dominance in Hollywood fundraising and endorsements.In countering Oz’s name recognition, Fetterman even has tried to weaponize celebrity, as when his campaign enlisted Snooki from Jersey Shore to troll Oz in a Cameo spoof, meant to highlight his move from New Jersey to Pennsylvania and play on the disdain that the Keystone State has for its neighbor.Oz has been trying to take a page from the playbook of Donald Trump, who has endorsed him, by touting his personal brand as just what is needed to take on the Washington establishment.

His campaign logo features the same squared off box as his TV show.Like Trump, Oz also has relished the limelight, serving as Grand Marshall of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, attending red carpet events and Daytime Emmy Awards, for which he has won three times for hosting and the show four times as outstanding talk show.Even after announcing his Senate run, Oz appeared on the Wall of Fame for a ceremony in February to unveil his star, or which recipients are responsible for a