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Saturday Night Live poked fun at the national drama surrounding electoral races in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona on Saturday – citing how political outsiders such as Dr. Oz and NFL star Herschel Walker have performed exceedingly well in pre-electoral polls.

The show dedicated its cold open to these political newcomers while going as far to mock them – in a mock interview set on a parody of ‘PBS News Hour.’

Presiding over the ordeal was, of course, anchor Judy Woodruff – played by cast member Heidi Gardner – who welcomed satirical versions of Oz, Walker, and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake as part of the opening skit.

Gardner’s Woodruff begins the segment by introducing the three candidates, played by Mikey Day, Kenan Thompson, and Cecily Strong, respectively.

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Presiding over the ordeal was, of course, anchor Judy Woodruff - played by cast member Heidi Gardner - who welcomed satirical versions of Dr. Oz, NFL star Herschel Walker, and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake as part of the opening skit.

Presiding over the ordeal was, of course, anchor Judy Woodruff – played by cast member Heidi Gardner – who welcomed satirical versions of Dr. Oz, NFL star Herschel Walker, and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake as part of the opening skit. 

The newscaster then remarks on how the trio has emerged as stars of the Republican Party after beginning their respective races as underdogs – though she’s unsure how.

‘OK, well, all three of you have been gaining in the polls the past few weeks despite none of you having any political experience,’ she begins, as the unlikely politicians stand at their own podiums on the pseudo set.

She then directs her attention to Thompson’s Walker, a former NFL running back and the Republican nominee in the upcoming Senate election in Georgia.

‘Mr. Walker, you’re now within three points of Senator Raphael Warnock. Why is your support growing?’ Woodruff asks, seemingly dumbfounded by the aspiring politician’s current success in the polls.

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‘And that’s where I don’t know,’ Thompson’s Walker responds with the Heisman winner’s signature Southern twang, equally puzzled. 

‘The whole world is a mystery. Ain’t it? For example, a Thermos — it keeps the hot things hot, but also the cold things cold. My question is, how do it decide? We’re looking into that very much.’

When asked why millions in Georgia are voting for him, despite two women coming forward to claim he footed the bill for their abortions, Thompson, as former Heisman winner Walker: replied: 'Gas. Gas prices are really high'

When asked why millions in Georgia are voting for him, despite two women coming forward to claim he footed the bill for their abortions, Thompson, as former Heisman winner Walker: replied: ‘Gas. Gas prices are really high’

When asked why millions in Georgia are voting for him – despite two women coming forward to claim he footed the bill for their abortions – the former Cowboys running back simply replies ‘Gas. Gas prices are really high.’

Thompson, in character, added of Walker’s success: ‘Like the great Trump Donald said, I can pay for an abortion in the middle of fifth avenue, and not lose any votes.’ 

He also said that last he checked, his son was a ‘boy.’ 

Meanwhile, portraying Dr. Mehmet Oz – who left his longtime show last year to run for governor of Pennsylvania – cast member Day donned a Phillies hat and awkwardly bragged to fellow panelists of having a delicious ‘Philadelphia Cheese and Steak’ while in the state’s unassuming capital city.

Seemingly attempting to appeal to Philly’s more blue-collar, folksy voter base but betrayed by the TV doc’s signature stuffy cadence, Day, as Oz, explained he had a ‘lucky break’ thanks to Democratic rival John Fetterman’s stroke – before taking a moment to shill diet pills guaranteed to help dieters lose 30 pounds in a day. 

Seemingly attempting to appeal to Philly's more blue-collar, folksy voterbase but betrayed by the TV doc's signature stuffy cadence, Day, as TV doc Oz, took a moment to shill diet pills guaranteed to help dieters lose 30 pounds in a day

Seemingly attempting to appeal to Philly’s more blue-collar, folksy voterbase but betrayed by the TV doc’s signature stuffy cadence, Day, as TV doc Oz, took a moment to shill diet pills guaranteed to help dieters lose 30 pounds in a day

Strong’s Lake, meanwhile, a former Phoenix news anchor, thanked Woodruff for having her on the program – which the Republican went on to pan as a ‘sweet little show full of lies.’ 

Pressed about denying the 2020 election results and her support for former President Trump, Lake instead opines as to why she appeals to voters – with the show clearly lambasting the newswoman’s efforts to assert her supposed ‘folksiness’ on members of her home state, despite boasting a far from convincing demeanor.

‘I’m normal Judy, I’m just a regular hometown gal constantly in soft focus,’ she tells Gardner’s Woodruff, remarking that she clicked with ‘elderly terrified’ voters in Arizona, known for its large senior population. 

‘Arizonans want to talk about the issues that affect them, like crime in New York, or crime in Detroit, or the most pressing issue, drag queen story time,’ she continues, referring to recent controversy over the recent advent in Arizona and Florida of public schools sending their students to events presided over by drag queens. 

‘Men dressing as loud sassy women, introducing children to the joys of reading? Not on my watch,’ she said. ‘If the people of Arizona elect me, I’ll make sure they never have to vote again.’  

The episode, which aired on October 29, was hosted by musician Jack Harlow, who also doubled as the show’s musical guest.

The skit comes as the states’ midterm elections loom on the horizon, with candidates set to duke it out the week after next.

Many races, particularly the ones lampooned on Saturday’s cold open, are particularly heated.

According to a recent poll, 51 percent of likely Pennsylvania voters back Fetterman, who suffered a stroke five months ago and subsequently flubbed answers during a widely seen debate last week, compared to 49 percent who back Oz.

In Georgia, the senate race is also uncharacteristically tight. Incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock has a significant lead among early voters, while challenger Walker is bolstered by potential support among Election Day voters. 

Warnock currently holds a net positive rating of 51 percent favorable to 43 percent unfavorable among state voters, while Walker has nearly the inverse – a net negative rating of 43 percent favorable to 52 percent unfavorable. 

In Arizona, Katie Hobbs, who had been leading Lake by a good 5-7 percent for the majority of the race, now trails lake by single digits in several polls, after refusing to debate her opponent earlier this month. 

The disparities between all the aforementioned candidates fall well within the 4.4-percent margin of error that is historically accepted when it comes to pre-election polls. Midterms are poised to kick off on November 8.

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