Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent statement at a campaign event in Wisconsin, where she seemingly endorsed a false narrative accusing Israel of genocide, has ignited a firestorm of controversy, particularly among Jewish voters. Her comments, made in an attempt to appease Arab American voters, have inadvertently alienated a key Democratic demographic, potentially jeopardizing her chances of winning the crucial state of Pennsylvania.
Harris’s remark, in response to a heckler accusing Israel of war crimes, came across as an affirmation of a false narrative, prompting widespread criticism. This incident is the latest in a series of signals that the Democratic Party, once considered a strong ally of Israel, is shifting under the pressure of progressive voices that reject the Jewish state.
The potential consequences of this shift are significant, particularly in Pennsylvania, where Jewish voters have traditionally been a reliable Democratic bloc. However, recent trends suggest a growing dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s stance on Israel, and Harris’s comments may further accelerate this shift.
Rona Kaufman, a 49-year-old Pittsburgh resident, exemplifies this sentiment. She told the Associated Press, “The family that is my generation and older generations, I don’t think anybody is voting for Harris, and we’ve never voted Republican, ever. My sister has a Trump sign outside her house, and that is a huge shift.”
This shift in sentiment has not gone unnoticed by Republican candidates. Dave McCormick, the Republican candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania, has been strategically courting Jewish voters, positioning himself as a staunch defender of the US-Israel alliance. McCormick has made repeated visits to synagogues and hosted events specifically for the Jewish community, hoping to capitalize on the growing discontent with the Democratic Party’s stance on Israel.
The trend of Jewish voters moving away from the Democratic Party is not limited to Pennsylvania. Across the country, Republicans are making inroads with Jewish voters who feel abandoned by a party that seems increasingly willing to cater to anti-Israel progressives. This shift in voter demographics could have a significant impact on tight races like those expected in Pennsylvania and Michigan.
The impact of this trend on the 2024 election could be substantial. If even a small percentage of Jewish voters who traditionally support Democrats move towards the GOP, it could swing key counties and potentially even the state. This potential shift is especially concerning for Harris’s campaign, given that Pennsylvania is a make-or-break state for her presidential ambitions.
The electoral map is unforgiving, and every percentage point counts. If Jewish voters decide to punish the Democrats for their lack of support for Israel and their embrace of antisemitic voices within the party, it could be the nail in the coffin for Harris’s presidential aspirations.
This growing discontent among Jewish voters is not happening in a vacuum. A recent Pew Research survey showed that while Jewish voters still overwhelmingly support Democrats, their support for Republicans has been steadily growing, with more Jews viewing Trump as pro-Israel than they do the Democratic Party.
Further evidence of this trend can be found in a Siena College poll conducted in September, which found Trump with a 10-point lead over Harris among Jewish voters. While that lead has since shifted in favor of Harris, the poll highlights the significant movement toward Trump, particularly considering a new Manhattan Institute poll that shows Jewish support for a Democrat presidential nominee at its lowest point since the Ronald Reagan era.
Harris’s recent remarks, coupled with the broader shift in Jewish voter sentiment, have created a challenging environment for her campaign. In a state like Pennsylvania, where every vote matters, alienating a key demographic like Jewish voters could have significant consequences for her presidential ambitions.
As the election approaches, it remains to be seen whether Harris can recover from this misstep and regain the support of Jewish voters. However, the growing discontent among this demographic, combined with Republican efforts to capitalize on it, presents a formidable challenge for the Vice President.
