Concerns are mounting for Vice President Kamala Harris as she prepares for a pivotal campaign event in Pittsburgh.

If she doesn’t take a stand against anti-Israel activists who have joined her campaign trail, there’s a genuine fear that she could lose crucial support in Pennsylvania and jeopardize her presidential bid.

Backlash in Pittsburgh

Harris is set to rally supporters on the eve of the election alongside celebrities like Lady Gaga.

However, backlash has emerged in Pittsburgh following events where speakers connected to her campaign criticized Israel’s role in the recent violence, specifically pointing fingers at Israel regarding the Hamas attacks on October 7.

This stance has not gone unnoticed by local officials and community leaders.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, who have both spoken at Harris’s events, have previously suggested that Israel bears some responsibility for the violence.

Their comments have sparked outrage among Jewish communities in Pittsburgh, which represent a significant portion of the city’s population.

Implications for Jewish Voters

A statement co-signed by Gainey, Innamorato, and Democratic Rep. Summer Lee claimed that the violence “did not start on October 7,” provoking strong reactions from Jewish residents.

The Jewish community, estimated to be around 400,000 strong in Pennsylvania, is now reconsidering their support ahead of the election, putting Harris’s 19 Electoral College votes at risk.

Jewish Democrats in Pittsburgh have expressed feelings of betrayal by the party, with some voicing their concerns about the implications of this rhetoric.

Aviva Lubowsky, a 45-year-old mother of two, indicated that while she plans to support Harris, there’s a significant risk of losing the Jewish vote if the party fails to distance itself from extremist views.

Shifting Allegiances

Lubowsky stated, “If the Democratic Party wants to retain its Jewish voter base, they have to eschew and denounce extremists in the party.”

She emphasized that the current rhetoric poses a danger to her children’s safety and could drive Jewish voters toward Republican candidates like Trump.

Though she intends to support Harris for president, she will be voting for Republican James Hayes in hopes of unseating Summer Lee.

Political scientist Jennifer Murtazashvili from the University of Pittsburgh highlighted a troubling trend among her liberal Jewish friends, noting that around 60% are considering voting for Trump due to distrust in Harris regarding antisemitism.

She remarked, “The mainstream progressive left has a major problem on its hands. How can we discern what her policies are except by the people she surrounds herself with?”

A Divided Community

Concerns about moral clarity are rising within the Jewish community, with some voters feeling uncertain for the first time in years.

Many have historically aligned with the Democratic Party, having supported candidates like Obama, Clinton, and Biden.

The lack of decisive statements from Harris regarding support for Israel has left some voters feeling hesitant.

One individual reflected on the problematic nature of local leaders like Gainey and Innamorato, indicating that their presence at Harris’s events seemed to ignore the delicate balance of community concerns.

With past violence against the Jewish community, such as the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting, the stakes feel particularly high.

Perspectives on Harris’s Campaign

Despite the criticism, some supporters maintain faith in Harris’s commitment to the Jewish community.

Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the Tree of Life massacre, defended Harris, stating that the Vice President is not aligned with the “Squad” and has a history of addressing antisemitism.

Polling from September suggests that Harris’s support among Jewish voters has dipped to its lowest point in over three decades for the Democratic Party.

Given the historical tendency of Jewish voters to lean liberal, this shift poses significant questions about the future of Democratic support in upcoming elections.

What’s Next for Harris?

With Election Day fast approaching, Harris must navigate these complex dynamics within the Jewish community while trying to unify her base.

The outcome in Pennsylvania could be pivotal, and the Vice President’s responses to these pressing issues will undoubtedly influence her campaign’s trajectory.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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