Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was a good sport about not being Kamala Harris’ running mate — making a forceful case for veepstakes winner Tim Walz at Tuesday night’s rally in Philadelphia.
But many Jewish voters expressed concern that Shapiro didn’t get the job at least in part because of his Jewish faith and his support for Israel after the anti-Israel wing of the Democratic Party smeared him as “Genocide Josh.”
Eyal Yakoby, a University of Pennsylvania grad who has been outspoken about antisemitism on college campuses, said Harris “miscalculated” by passing up Shapiro.
“I think there was an opportunity to show America, show the world, that we’re not getting consumed by these fringe radical groups,” said Yakoby, adding that the Harris campaign should do more to denounce antisemitism from the left.
Despite Shapiro’s political talents and popularity in the Keystone State, Yakoby said anti-Israel activists — who mounted a protest vote campaign against President Biden over his support for the Jewish state — specifically smeared Shapiro because of his faith.
“The mask gets lifted off very quickly,” he told The Post.
“I think at the end of the day, it’s very obvious that he was targeted for his Jewish faith.”
Shapiro is the popular governor of perhaps the most important swing state.
His 49% overall approval rating — with 31% disapproval — in his home state is far better the either Harris or former President Donald Trump’s numbers nationally.
The Trump campaign was reportedly wary of Shapiro and even tried to boost the smear campaign against him in an effort to convince Harris to pick a running mate they believed would be easier to oppose.
Jewish voters in Pennsylvania commenting online were even more forceful about the snub.
I’m a Jewish Montgomery County voter who liked Kelly and was starting to really like the idea of Shapiro even though I have my issues with him. I really think the far left got to Harris and that pisses me off. Take time and let it sink in but do the right thing and vote for her.
— Giggler1973 (@giggler1973) August 6, 2024
“I’m a Jewish Montgomery County voter who liked [Arizona Sen. Mark] Kelly and was starting to really like the idea of Shapiro even though I have my issues with him,” one poster said.
“I think the far left got to Harris and that pisses me off.”
Another Twitter user who said they live in the crucial suburban Bucks County said, “she’s lost my vote and I’m going out volunteering to turn as many votes against her as possible.”
Bucks country here. She’s lost my vote and I’m going out volunteering to turn as many votes against her as possible
— 4 for 4 season 🇺🇸 (@yiffens) August 6, 2024
State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, a Jewish Democrat from Lehigh County, vowed to support the Harris ticket after railing against antisemitic attacks on Shapiro last week.
And while she is not Jewish, Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity called out the attacks on Shapiro from within.
“While I disagree with Josh Shapiro on many matters of fiscal policy, no Pennsylvanian can fail to take offense at the shabby and unwarranted attacks directed at him by some members of his own party, even a member of his party’s statewide ticket,” Garrity said, referencing her Democratic challenger Erin McClelland’s criticism of Shapiro two weeks ago.
For his part, Shapiro seems to be taking the snub in stride.
The gov made it a point to mention his faith when he gave his Philadelphia stump speech for Walz, the governor of Minnesota,
“I lean on my family and I lean on my faith, which calls me to serve,” Shapiro said.
“And I am proud of my faith.”
Shapiro’s speech drew some of the loudest applause for any speaker at the rally, where the raucous and enthused crowd at times drowned out his words.
