Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump has taken a jab at the potential partnership between Vice President Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for the upcoming election. In an interview aired recently, Trump asserted that should Harris choose Shapiro as her running mate, she would likely alienate voters from the Palestinian community. The former president pointed out that many Palestinians have been drawn to his policies and perceived strength in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs, which might not align with Shapiro’s background and political stance.
While it’s not a stretch to say that Harris has a proverbial mountain to climb in Pennsylvania, a state critical for her electoral strategy, Shapiro’s popularity does not come without baggage. His management of a sexual harassment complaint levied against one of his aides has raised eyebrows, and the far-Left Democrats aren’t exactly throwing him a parade over his approach to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This discontent among progressives has sparked a rather colorful campaign labeled “No Genocide Josh,” making his candidacy even more controversial.
Such a piece of shit!
Trump shrugs off prospect of Shapiro helping Harris in November #DonaldTrump #Hamas #Israelhttps://t.co/KjLwwS9isY— Catty PawlaTicks 😺 (@PersianKittenz) August 5, 2024
Adding fuel to the fire, critics have resurfaced a piece Shapiro authored when he was just a bright-eyed college student, opining on the troubles in the Middle East. He was bold enough to declare that Palestinians would struggle to create a stable homeland—even with assistance from Israel and the United States. This essay, rather than fading into obscurity, has been thrust into the limelight and given a second life during these precarious political times.
On the flip side, the Harris campaign is trying to play a little coy about the running mate choice. She’s been giving speeches in Philadelphia, hinting at a big reveal, but also making it clear that just because she’s in Shapiro’s backyard doesn’t mean he’s the chosen one. The fact that Harris has been vetting other options raises eyebrows. Can one even imagine the fallout if the Democrats fail to secure Shapiro while still trying to appease their far-Left base?
To add even more intrigue, the fallout from the Israel-Hamas conflict could be a wildcard affecting not just Pennsylvania but neighboring Michigan—another key battleground state. While President Biden cleaned up in Michigan’s Democratic primary, there was a noticeable chunk of voters who chose an “uncommitted” ballot, indicating unease about his administration’s handling of the ongoing crisis. Biden’s lead in that state was slim enough in the last election, which should give Democrats plenty of heartburn as they consider their strategies for moving forward.
With the stakes this high, one has to question how Harris and her team plan to navigate these treacherous waters. The requirement to straddle the line between appeasing both the centrist voters who lean towards more moderate policies and the radical Left that wants nothing short of a complete overhaul of U.S. foreign policy is a delicate balancing act. All this political juggling might just land them in a less-than-stable position come November.
