Dr Oz rules out supporting federal abortion ban if elected to US Senate during Pennsylvania midterm debate

‘I don’t even need 30 seconds – I’ll give you a bigger answer’

Dr Mehmet Oz has said he would not support a federal abortion if elected to the US Senate, arguing the issue ought to be left up to the individual states.

Speaking at a debate with Democrat John Fetterman, designed to help voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania decide on their candidate, the one-time television celebrity was asked if he would back a bill being proposed by fellow Republican Lindsay Graham.

“Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a federal bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks. I know that you’ve been asked about this question before. If the vote were held today, you were elected senator, you’re on the Senate floor, the clerk calls you there’s a roll call vote - are you a yay or nay,” Mr Oz was asked, saying he had 30 seconds to answer.

The 62-year-old was quick to respond.

“I don’t even need 30 seconds – I’ll give you a bigger answer,” he said. “I am not going to support federal rules that block the ability of states to do what they wish to do.”

He added: “Abortion decisions should be left to the states.”

Mr Fetterman appeared sluggish at times, the result his of still ongoing recovery after suffering a stroke earlier this year.

Mr Fetterman’s doctors have said his verbal halts did not represent a problem with his brain, but rather an auditory processing disorder.

As it was, he was at his most fluent when answering the same question.

“I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania. You know, if you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr Oz, then you have a choice,” he said.

“But if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, that's what I fight for. Roe v Wade, for me, should be the law. He celebrated when Roe v Wade went down and my campaign would fight for Roe v Wade and if given the opportunity to codify it into law.”

John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz debate ahead of election for US Senate seat in Pennsylvania (Screen grab)

After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe this summer, various states have been scrambing on how to respond.

In September, Mr Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, introduced a bill to create a federal ban on abortions at 15 weeks.

For such a bill to get passed, it would require Republicans to retake control of both chambers of Congress.