The saying that Politics makes strange bedfellows is being played out in real time.
One is a Republican poised to take back the presidency next week; the other is a Democratic senator from Pennsylvania.
The relationship that has emerged between President-elect Donald Trump and Sen. John Fettermanās (D-Pa.) has people wondering what exactly is happening,Ā The HillĀ reported.
Since the Nov. 5 election, Fetterman has met with Trump while criticizing his fellow Democrats on certain issues.
āI wouldnāt 100% rule out that maybe or slightly there is some thinking about different or future opportunities,ā Eddie Vale, a longtime Democratic strategist, said.
Others are just not sure why Fetterman has taken the stances he has.
āThereās no telling with any certainty what Fettermanās motivations are. I do political analysis, not psychoanalysis,ā Norman Solomon, a progressive strategist and founder of the activist network RootsAction, said. āBut clearly, he has been moving rightward.ā
There has been speculation as to if Fetterman may have a role in the Trump administration ā especially since the two met at Mar-a-Lago.
After the meeting, Trump called Fetterman āa fascinating man.ā
One political strategist said this could all be a planned move by Trump to have a Democratic ally on Capitol Hill.
āIf youāre willing to put the country first Iām willing to work with you,ā Ford OāConnell said about Trumpās thinking. āThatās what heās been projecting.ā
According to a Trump transition official, the two talked about Israel, the U.S.-Mexico border and the future of steel manufacturing.
āHeās a commonsense person. Heās not liberal or conservative,ā Trump said about Fetterman, who has been able to adapt to any situation.
āHeās accurately read the room and knows thereās a new sheriff in town,ā Christopher Nicholas, a Pennsylvania-based GOP consultant and publisher of the PA Political Digest newsletter Nicholas said. āHeās very adroit at shocking people and then coming back with a retort when they seem shocked. Itās his modus operandi.ā
But the motive behind what Fetterman does may not be as complicated as people may think.
ā simplest answer is just what he is saying,ā Vale said.
āHe is a senator from a 50/50 state that voted for Trump twice, so heās trying to have a foot in both worlds,ā he said.
