Is a Trump/Oz Breakup on the Horizon?

After a series of embarrassing gaffes, it looks like Dr. Oz is about to get the same treatment as other Trump acolytes who have been excommunicated.

Donald Trump is famous for his ability to excommunicate his acolytes in their time of need. In fact, it’s more accurate to say he erases them, since he not only removes his support, but the former president often pretends he never met the person being shunned, or instead claims the former advisor held an insignificant role shuffling papers or delivering coffee.

Now, after a series of embarrassing gaffes, it looks like Dr. Oz is about to get the same treatment.

The trouble in the relationship began early on, as the Trump endorsement of Oz was met with a lot of skepticism from the GOP base. When Oz spoke at a rally shortly after being endorsed, he was met by a flurry of boos. That was considered a low moment when it happened, but looking back on it now after the onslaught of campaign errors, it’s possible that those early boos might just mark the high point in the Oz campaign.

And to make things worse, the Oz campaign has to deal with his opponent, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. While no campaign and no candidate is without flaws, Fetterman’s team is cleverly taking advantage of every gaffe and every mistake, including this recent suggestion by Oz that veterans should be forced into private health insurance programs.

At present Oz is trailing in the polls, often by double digits. The NRSC has pulled its funding from the campaign, but while a super PAC linked to GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is making a massive $34 million investment to try to defeat Fetterman, few believe it will be enough to make a difference.

While the frustrations voiced by the Trump team are still happening mostly behind the scenes, they are not the only ones speaking their skepticism out loud. Recently, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell spoke out about a number of concerns, citing “candidate quality” as the cause for the GOP’s recent admission that this might not be their year to recapture control of the Senate.

This is as close as we’re going to get to McConnell blaming Trump for the current state of this and several other races across the US. The move appears to be an attempt to distance himself from responsibility for what he believes is coming in November, and also an attempt to lay the blame directly at Trump’s feet.

While there are no certainties in politics, and the outcome is never predetermined, it appears that Dr. Mehmet Oz will soon have plenty of time to shop the Jersey grocery stores for a good bargain on veggie trays.