Fetterman Discloses Extent of Heart Issues: ‘I Avoided Going to the Doctor.’

Former Vice President Dick Cheney had a defibrillator implanted in 2001. He completed two phrases in the White House, together with a hard-fought re-election marketing campaign in 2004.

“Doctors have told me I need to continue to rest, eat healthy, exercise, and focus on my recovery, and that’s exactly what I’m doing,” Mr. Fetterman stated. “It will take some more time to get back on the campaign trail like I was in the lead-up to the primary. It’s frustrating — all the more so because this is my own fault — but bear with me, I need a little more time. I’m not quite back to 100 percent yet, but I’m getting closer every day.”

Ed Rendell, a Democratic former governor of the state and a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, stated in an interview on Friday that he had no qualms about Mr. Fetterman’s health to serve. He downplayed how a lot Mr. Fetterman’s well being would weigh on the minds of voters, saying that he didn’t suppose it might be a difficulty.

“When I was governor, the Republicans used to say I was one cheese steak away from having a heart attack, and I never did,” stated Mr. Rendell.

Nancy Patton Mills, the chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Democrats, didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Friday. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee didn’t instantly touch upon Friday.

Mr. Fetterman has been off the marketing campaign path since his stroke and has sometimes launched transient movies since then. In an indication that Mr. Fetterman was transferring again towards some political engagement, Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania, wrote on Twitter that he’d had a “virtual double date” with Mr. Fetterman and his spouse, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, earlier Friday afternoon.

“Looking forward to many more on the campaign trail this summer!” Mr. Casey wrote.

Gina Kolata and Neil Vigdor contributed reporting.