US President Joe Biden is set to join Vice-President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail this week for the first time since Harris took over as the Democratic nominee. However, the recent discovery of Israeli hostage deaths in Gaza is expected to cast a shadow over their events. This week signifies the beginning of the crucial post-Labour Day push towards the November 5 election, with both Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, anticipated to intensify their voter outreach, particularly in key states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada.
Over the weekend, Israel retrieved the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza, where they were allegedly killed by Hamas. This has led to severe criticism of the Biden administration's ceasefire efforts and increased pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of the remaining hostages. The US government, including Biden, has been attempting to mediate a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths in response to Hamas's October 7 attack that claimed 1,200 lives. This issue is influencing the US election, with pro-Palestinian activists planning to escalate protests against Harris and Republicans blaming Biden and Harris for the hostage deaths.
On Monday, Biden and Harris will campaign together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state in this election cycle. Harris will also visit Detroit, Michigan, and her vice-presidential nominee, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to their campaign activities, Biden and Harris will meet with the US hostage negotiation team at the White House to discuss efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages, according to the White House.
Meanwhile, Trump will participate in a FOX town hall hosted by Sean Hannity on Wednesday and later address the Fraternal Order of Police at their fall meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by a rally in Wisconsin. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that Harris is leading against Trump with 45% to 41%. Harris and Walz aim to maintain the momentum sparked by her entry into the race on July 21, with Democrats contributing record amounts of money and volunteering in large numbers. They have emphasized a positive, forward-looking message about America's future, cost-cutting measures for the middle class, and attracting Republicans disillusioned with Trump.
Trump and his vice-presidential nominee, JD Vance, have struggled to formulate a clear strategy against Harris, portraying her as both a staunch liberal and the successor to Biden's more centrist policies, while also criticizing her intelligence and disseminating crude internet memes. An outside adviser to Trump previously informed Reuters that several advisers had cautioned Trump that a continued focus on insults rather than policy could jeopardize his chances in November. Harris's campaign appears to be outraising Trump's; last week, the Harris campaign reported raising $204 million in July, compared to $48 million reported by Trump's main fundraising group. Both sides are heavily investing in TV ads in battleground states.
Following the discovery of the six hostage bodies, Biden, Harris, and Trump all issued statements. Biden expressed his devastation and outrage, stating, "Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages." Harris mentioned that she and her husband had spoken to the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the deceased hostages. "As they mourn this terrible loss, they are not alone. Our nation mourns with them," she said. Trump criticized Harris, stating that the "Hostage Crisis in Israel is only taking place because Comrade Kamala Harris is weak and ineffective, and has no idea what she's doing." Leat Corinne Unger, a family member of 21-year-old Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov, who was not among the found hostages, lamented that "everyone has failed." "Everyone has blood on their hands," she said. "The international community failed, the administration, on both sides, bipartisan, they failed." "It's time for the suffering of innocents to end on all sides of the spectrum and the international community must hold Hamas accountable," she added. "They have said a lot of things, but they haven't done anything to force their hand." Biden and Harris are likely to face further inquiries about the administration's efforts to secure a hostage deal, according to Jeremi Suri, history and public affairs professor at the University of Texas at Austin. "The best scenario for Biden and Harris would be a ceasefire this week," Suri said. "Israeli public is pushing and Hamas seems open, but it is very hard to predict."
