On Monday, the Labor Day in the United States marked the beginning of a crucial stage for both parties in the sprint towards the November 5th election. Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican challenger, former President Trump, are expected to ramp up their campaigns to reach out to voters, especially in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada.
On Monday, Harris is scheduled to hold a campaign event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of the most important battleground states in this election cycle. She will also travel to Detroit, Michigan, while her vice-presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will visit Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
President Biden will join Harris at her campaign event in Pennsylvania on Monday, marking his first participation in a campaign event since Harris replaced him as the Democratic candidate. One of the key issues they are currently facing is how to address the Israeli hostage deaths discovered over the weekend in Gaza.
Last weekend, Israel found the bodies of six hostages in a tunnel from Gaza. Israel claims these hostages were recently killed by Hamas. This incident has sparked sharp criticism of the Biden administration’s ceasefire strategy and added pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli citizens have staged large protests demanding the return of the remaining hostages.
The hostage situation is influencing the U.S. election, with pro-Palestinian activists threatening to intensify protests against Harris during campaign events, while Republicans are blaming the hostage deaths on policy errors by Biden and Harris.
The White House stated that Biden and Harris will meet with the U.S. hostage negotiation team before the election to discuss efforts to secure a deal ensuring the release of the remaining hostages.
The hostage situation has complicated ceasefire negotiations. Following the discovery of the six hostage bodies, Biden, Harris, and Trump all issued statements over the weekend. Biden expressed shock and anger at the deaths of 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other hostages.
In a statement, President Biden said, “Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes, and we will work around the clock to reach an agreement to ensure the release of the remaining hostages.” He told reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware that he remains “optimistic” about reaching a ceasefire agreement.
Harris mentioned that she and her husband had spoken with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and said, “As they grieve this terrible loss, they are not alone, our nation mourns with them.”
Trump criticized Harris, saying, “The Israeli hostage crisis happened because Comrade Kamala Harris is weak and incompetent, doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
Leat Corinne Unger, the family of 21-year-old Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov (not one of the six victims), told Reuters, “Everyone is a loser, everyone’s hands are covered in blood, the international community failed, the governments, both sides, both parties failed.”
She said, “It’s time to end the suffering of innocent parties, the international community must hold Hamas accountable, although they have said a lot, they haven’t taken action yet.”
Jeremi Suri, a history and public affairs professor at the University of Texas at Austin, stated, “Biden and Harris are likely facing the question: what measures should the government take to ensure a successful hostage exchange? Ideally, a ceasefire this week would be best for Biden and Harris; Israeli citizens are pushing for a ceasefire, and Hamas seems open, but the outcome is hard to predict.”
Despite the shadow of the Israeli hostage killings, Harris and Walz continue to maintain the enthusiasm she sparked among Democrats on July 21 when she announced her candidacy. They are focusing on spreading optimistic and positive messages about America’s future, promoting cost-cutting plans for the middle class, and appealing to dissatisfied Republicans with Trump’s policies.
Trump and his running mate JD Vance have been searching for a clear path to defeat Harris, portraying her as an unrepentant liberal and Biden’s successor in the more centrist position.
Trump is set to participate in a Fox Town Hall hosted by Sean Hannity on Wednesday, speak at the Fraternal Order of Police fall conference in Charlotte, North Carolina later this week, and attend a rally in Wisconsin.
Harris’s campaign team has reportedly raised more funds than Trump. Last week, Harris’s campaign team reported raising $204 million in July to the Federal Election Commission, while Trump’s primary fundraising team reported raising $48 million to the agency. Both sides are bombarding battleground states with television ads.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Harris leading Trump by 45% to 41% in their election matchup.
(Reference: Reuters)