BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Fabian Fellmann, the U.S. correspondent for Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, recently made a reporting trip to the Lehigh Valley — and for good reason.
Fellmann, who is typically based in Washington, D.C., was in town to cover Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, a region he considers a political bellwether. While here, he joined host Tom Shortell for an episode of Political Pulse at the Univest Public Media Center.
So why is a journalist from Switzerland zeroing in on a region like the Lehigh Valley?
Fellmann explained that for his international audience, PA-7 is a microcosm of the American electorate — diverse, politically divided, and highly competitive.
"It’s a representative example of the United States,” he said, describing the district as the type of swing area that can forecast national outcomes.
“Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District is going to be one of the most fought over districts for congressional elections – mid-term elections – so that’s what we’re watching," Fellman said.
The visit wasn’t just about politics. Fellmann said Swiss interest in American democracy runs deep, noting that the two nations share historical and ideological ties.
“Swiss thinkers were influential for the Founding Fathers, and the Founding Fathers were influential for the Swiss," he said.
“These days we have a quite similar political structure,” he said, noting the United States also is Switzerland’s biggest trading partner.
To find out more about Fellmann’s visit and his take on the region’s political significance, check out the latest episode of Political Pulse on the PBS39 YouTube channel or by clicking play on the module at the top of this article.
