mainly because of what I have seen of him as a "liberal populist" - something that is rarely shown because it seems they always want to apply the term "populist" to RW loons.
Fetterman has been prominent on national TV pushing the Democratic party agenda. During the election fiasco, he (along with AG Josh Shapiro who is running for Governor), was a steady presence on M$M and continually trolled the loons who attacked this state non-stop with dozens of frivolous lawsuits.
He has actually been fighting, with words and deeds, not only for marginalized communities like for LGBTQ rights through civil disobedience acts like hanging a Pride flag off the balcony of his office at the capital, but also argues for topics popular across the political spectrum (including for Independents) like legalization of recreational marijuana. That alone is something that can generate much needed dollars for states like ours (as has been seen with states that have adopted the legalization), and that money is definitely needed here in PA, where getting any kind of dedicated funding for schools and transportation, is like trying to wring water from a rock. 
He has made it a point to reach out across the state with some humorous and silly stuff like a "Sheetz" vs "Wawa" running gag... But then that is something that touches the average person here familiar with those convenience chain stores in this state. I had never heard of "Sheetz" until he started talking about it (apparently it is big in central and western PA). I think the closest one to me is about 50 miles away in Berks County or something... 
We are all Wawa here in the east. 
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