Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) stance on the Israel-Hamas war is under particularly high levels of scrutiny amid the Democratic divide over the war, as Vice President Harris considers adding him to her ticket.
Shapiro has emerged as the leading vice presidential candidate due to his executive experience in the critical swing state, which has 19 electoral college votes. Additionally, Shapiro’s allies point to his track record of appealing to voters outside the Democratic fold.
However, some progressives say the governor’s response to pro-Palestinian protests in response to the war could end up alienating the party’s left flank, despite Harris’ recently successful effort to unify Democrats.
However, Shapiro’s allies and defenders note that the governor’s position on the war is similar to most of the other important choices under consideration, with the only quality that sets him apart from the rest being his observant Jewish identity.
“We have a real opportunity to win the election and the idea that they are now trying to divide us because Josh is the only Jew who could be vice president continues the unfortunate division we have seen within the party since October 7th. ,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida), who is also Jewish and does not support a specific vice presidential candidate.
Shapiro has been seen as a rising star in the party for years, developing a reputation as a moderate with broad appeal to swing voters while championing key liberal priorities such as protecting abortion rights and raising the minimum wage.
Strategists supporting Shapiro said the governor’s widespread popularity, including an approval rating well above water, would be an advantage for the ticket.
Harris is aware of the risk of appearing too progressive as Republicans try to cast her as Biden’s left wing, and Shapiro’s moderate reputation could help her compared to some other running mate choices.
“Although I think progressives consider Shapiro too conservative, [Minnesota Gov. Tim] Walz might be a little too progressive for independents,” said a former Senate aide to Harris.
Meanwhile, former President Trump is jumping on the bandwagon, telling Fox News that if Harris chooses Shapiro, “she will lose the Palestinian vote.”
But former Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman TJ Rooney noted that some progressive resistance to Shapiro’s policies isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the vice presidential nominee.
“Sometimes the fights that people pick are fights that are not going to win in the court of public opinion,” Rooney said. “As far as Josh’s standing as a moderate political person who can add value in places like southwestern Pennsylvania… getting yelled at by people on the far left isn’t going to hurt him. This almost strengthens his credibility in some important circles in the Democratic Party and beyond.”
But progressive and pro-Palestinian segments of the party spoke out in opposition to Shapiro being the running mate, citing some issues, but mainly his stance on Israel.
Following the October 7 attacks on Israel and subsequent pro-Palestinian protests in the US, Shapiro became one of the most prominent political voices speaking out against the rise of anti-Semitism.
Shapiro weighed in after a December House hearing in which three university presidents, including one from the University of Pennsylvania, were questioned about anti-Semitism policies on campus and what counts as harassment. He criticized the Penn president’s testimony in which she did not say whether calling for genocide against Jewish students violated university policy.
In April, he said anti-Semitism and vandalism have “no place” in Pennsylvania after a swastika was spray-painted on a synagogue.
His criticism of Penn’s president increased pressure for her to resign following pro-Palestinian protests on campus. He also recently updated the code of conduct so that state employees do not engage in “scandalous” behavior, which some interpreted as preventing them from participating in these types of protests, although a spokesperson for the governor said that employees could still participate in the First Amendment activities.
“It seems like he went out of his way to compare him to governors like [Illinois Gov. JB] Pritzker and Walz, who are in this conversation,” said one progressive strategist, referring to Shapiro’s fellow vice presidential candidates, the former of whom is also Jewish.
“This brings to the attention of people in the Palestinian movement and progressives in general why this Democratic governor is [joining] people like Elise Stefanik in criticizing the Penn president? Why is the Democratic governor repeating some phrases that you actually associate more with Republicans on this?” added the strategist.
On Friday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that when he was a 20-year-old student at the University of Rochester, Shapiro wrote in an op-ed for the school newspaper that he believed peace would “never come” to the Middle East. Shapiro spokesman Manuel Bonder noted that the governor’s views on the issue “evolved into the position he holds today.”
But some have argued that Shapiro’s views and policies on the conflict are much the same as most of the other picks.
Shapiro harshly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him “one of the worst leaders of all time” and an obstacle to a two-state solution. He told the Washington Post the country “cannot ignore the death and destruction” in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Walz, around whom some progressives have rallied, showed openness to the protesters’ message, but went after instances that made Jewish students on campus feel unsafe.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), also under consideration, has generally expressed support for Israel, but avoided regret about the conflict amidst the veepstakes talk.
Another possible choice, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D), attended and applauded during Netanyahu’s address to Congress late last month, even though many Democrats ignored the speech in protest of his policies.
In a statement to The Hill, Bonder noted Shapiro’s “close personal relationships with Muslim-American, Arab-American, Palestinian Christian and Jewish community leaders.”
Given the relatively small differences in the positions of the vice presidential candidates, some have argued that Shapiro’s Jewish identity is the reason for the pressure he has received.
“Josh’s position on Israel is almost identical to everyone else’s, but he is being held to a different standard. So you have to ask yourself why? Moskowitz said. “We simply couldn’t imagine other Democrats within the party questioning the vice presidential pick just because they were black, gay, Latino. We couldn’t imagine that.”
Democratic strategist Jon Reinish said he believes the attention to criticism of Shapiro is more widespread than the sentiment itself, noting that an online petition against him has garnered just 850 signatures so far, compared to the 3 million votes it has garnered in 2022. .
“I think it shows that social media and the current social media environment amplifies fringe voices, but if you look at the reality, it’s getting more attention than actual support,” he said.
Reinish said the “mischaracterizations” of Shapiro’s positions will continue if he is chosen, but that can be resolved with a direct conversation about his position.
And some progressives say that when faced with Trump and his vice presidential pick, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), a Shapiro pick probably wouldn’t prompt progressives to stay home.
“Can I credibly say this is going to cost Harris the election or something? Honestly, the answer is no,” said the progressive strategist, noting the intense enthusiasm Harris’ campaign has already garnered.
Sam Crystal, chief of staff at the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said polls show a majority of Americans are in agreement with Shapiro’s position, making her less vulnerable as critics would portray her.
“He is an incredible communicator and I think when people sit down and really listen to his position on the issue and how he leads with moral clarity, they will see why he would be the right choice if selected,” Crystal said. .
Shapiro was leaning into his Jewish identity as governor before Oct. 7, with his first campaign ad during the 2022 cycle featuring Shabbat dinner with his family. But Shapiro’s allies stress that his appeal goes beyond his faith and ethnicity, pointing to his national record as governor.
And for voters, ultimately, Harris’ stance on a variety of issues will be the priority.
“It’s about what Kamala Harris thinks, not what Josh Shapiro thinks if he’s chosen to be her running mate,” Rooney said. “On the scale of returns compared to J.D. Vance, it doesn’t register.”
Mychael Schnell and Alex Gangitano contributed.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
