Vance accuses Harris of siding with Hamas over Shapiro

Senator JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio, has accused Vice President Kamala Harris of bowing down to radical left-wing voices within the Democratic Party in selecting her running mate for the upcoming November election.

During a rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, Vance boldly stated, “She bent the knee to the Hamas caucus of the Democratic Party.”

He joins a chorus of GOP critics who have accused Harris of choosing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate over former President Trump and Vance, allegedly because Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is Jewish. Former President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have also reiterated this claim.

Addressing the issue, Vance emphasized, “Whatever your views on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro – and obviously he’s not in my political party – the amount of rage from the far left saying, ‘Kamala Harris can’t pick this guy because he’s Jewish,’ is disgraceful.”

“I want my kids to grow up in a country where they can be whatever they want to be, without facing attacks on their ethnic heritage that are somehow considered acceptable,” Vance added.

Despite the backlash, the Harris campaign has denied these accusations, stating to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, “Assertions that Vice President Harris did not select Gov. Shapiro based on his religion or views on Israel are absolutely ridiculous and offensive.”

Republicans have largely applauded Harris’ decision to choose Walz over Shapiro, painting the Minnesota governor as a progressive radical due to his COVID-19 policies, support for gender-affirming treatment for minors, and assistance to undocumented migrants.

Harris, who is married to a Jewish individual, faces the challenging task of managing the Democratic Party’s growing divide over Israel, as a faction of progressives within the party advocates for distancing the US from its close Middle Eastern ally.

In the lead-up to her announcement on Tuesday, Harris met with Shapiro, Walz, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, with Shapiro initially viewed as the frontrunner given his position as the governor of a crucial swing state.

However, ultimately, Harris concluded that Walz would be a better match for her campaign based on his personality and campaign approach.