In Philadelphia, Republicans are using Sen. John Fetterman’s strong support for Israel to criticize his Pennsylvania colleague, Sen. Bob Casey, as they both run for re-election. Both Democrats have a pro-Israel stance that differs from the left wing of their party, standing by Israel in its fight against Hamas without calling for a ceasefire. The main contrast between them is that Fetterman has taken a more vocal approach in supporting Israel, with visible displays of solidarity such as hanging pictures of hostages taken by Hamas and draping himself in the Israeli flag.
Fetterman’s unwavering support for Israel, in contrast to President Biden’s stance, has garnered him praise from Republicans and is part of a larger political rebranding effort. Republicans are using Fetterman as a benchmark to compare Casey against, suggesting that Casey has not been as outspoken in his support for Israel.
Casey, who is supported by AIPAC, has shown some willingness to criticize the war in Gaza and has called for humanitarian relief to be allowed into the region. However, he generally aligns with Fetterman’s positions on Israel. Republicans, led by David McCormick, Casey’s challenger in the upcoming election, have highlighted this contrast to portray Casey as hesitant in his support for Israel.
The November election will test the effectiveness of this critique as a political strategy, especially in Pennsylvania where there are large Jewish populations. Republicans argue that Biden’s actions towards Israel may undermine his commitment to the country, and McCormick believes that the issue goes beyond just the Jewish vote, pointing to a perceived lack of leadership in the Democratic Party.
Overall, the debate over support for Israel between Fetterman and Casey highlights the nuances within the Democratic Party on this issue and how it may play out in the upcoming election.
