Many on the left were elated when Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Tuesday that she had selected Tim Walz as her running mate, with progressives citing the Minnesota governor’s support for strong labor protections, climate solutions, and a cease-fire in Gaza. Yet if Israel pulls the United States into a war in the Middle East, the Democrats are almost certain to lose the election regardless of whom Harris selected.
Voters are tired of unnecessary wars. In November, Quinnipiac found that 84 percent of Americans feared being dragged into war in the Middle East. According to a new poll by the Chicago Council, a majority opposes sending U.S. troops to defend Israel. Yet there is a real danger of that happening, given the Biden administration’s unrelenting support for Netanyahu’s aggression toward Palestinians, Lebanon, and Iran. And Harris risks being branded a warmonger by association, while Trump portrays himself as the dealmaker who “started no new wars” during his term.
This paper was published by the New Republic on August 8, 2024. To read more click here
