Here at PJ Media, we’ve talked about how Joe Biden has turned his back on Israel because his past public support for the Jewish State has threatened his chances of winning Michigan (and potentially other states) in November. We know that Joe Biden likely can’t win the general election if Trump wins Michigan, but the Israel issue may also be threatening vulnerable Democrats in the U.S. Senate.
The issue has become such a cudgel for the Democrats that even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has publicly turned on Israel, even calling on the country to hold new elections in the hopes of booting Benjamin Netanyahu in exchange for someone willing to cave to Hamas. Staunch pro-Israel Democrats are few and far between, with Sen. John Fetterman being one of the few willing to unabashedly defend them.
The senior senator from Pennsylvania, however... not so much.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is up for reelection this year, and while he is currently favored to win, his Republican opponent, Dave McCormick appears to be gaining on him, and McCormick is making Sen. Casey's position on Israel an issue of the campaign. McCormick traveled to the Israel-Gaza border and has attacked the Biden administration for not supporting Israel strongly enough, and is now attacking Casey.
Related: An Ominous Sign for Biden and the Democrats in Pennsylvania
"Time and time again Bob Casey refuses to take a stand. Israel is fighting a war against terrorists. It shouldn't be hard to show moral clarity, but in classic Bob Casey fashion, he chose weakness over leadership," McCormick said in a statement to our sister site, Townhall.
Sen. John Tester, a Democrat representing Montana, is also struggling to navigate the Israel issue in an election year where his seat is considered a likely pickup opportunity for the GOP. According to a report from The Daily Beast, he's trying to "strike a delicate balance" on Israel.
A Tester spokesperson told The Daily Beast he “supports ongoing efforts to reach a negotiated pause agreed upon by both sides that would release the remaining hostages and save innocent lives.” But the senator believes the “top priority” of the U.S. “must be the release of American hostages and allowing Israel to effectively counter Hamas—and that response must be targeted and avoid civilian casualties.”
At the same time, Tester has expressed sympathy for Palestinians, pushed for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, and has made outreach to activists in Montana, with him and his team personally calling some to discuss their concerns. (Fortunato said the communications have not assuaged activists' concerns as Tester did not commit to a ceasefire.)
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) is another vulnerable Democrat who is under pressure from the progressive antisemitic wing of the party. Naturally, Republicans see an opportunity.
“Democrats are caught between their radical base, which hates Israel, and the majority of Americans who do not like Hamas terrorists,” Mike Berg, communications director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told the Daily Beast. “It’s a tough place to be.”
Sen Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has also been the target of anti-Israel protests but has yet to call for a ceasefire. However, according to comments he made in a leaked call with social media influencers, he says he doesn't trust Netanyahu any more than Hamas to abide by any ceasefire.
Make no mistake about it: Democrats are struggling with the Israel issue as the antisemitic wing of the party has been aggressively flexing its muscles in this election, and it could affect control of the Senate after November.
