US VP Kamala Harris lunches campaign for Democratic presidential nomination with snub to Netanyahu
WASHINGTON: US Vice President Kamala Devi Harris has decided not to preside over Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s July 24 address to Congress; on a day she mustered enough Democratic delegates’ support to become her party’s nominee against Republican Donald Trump in November election.
Some political analysts said Mrs. Harris’ decision to skip the joint meeting of Congress was a snub to Netanyahu at a time when the Israeli war in Gaza has caused growing backlash in the country, especially his refusal to accept a ceasefire in Gaza amid mounting Palestinian death toll from the relentless Israeli bombardments.
But, according to media reports, Ms. Harris, who is of Indian origin, will meet the Israeli premier at the White House separately later this week.
An aide to the vice president cited a previously scheduled event in Indianapolis as the reason for missing the speech Wednesday.
Nearly 60 members skipped Netanyahu’s address to Congress back in 2015 — and many think that the tally of Democrats skipping could be even higher this time around. (Biden, then vice president, was traveling abroad during that speech).
Meanwhile, top Democrats rallied to Ms. Harris in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s decision to drop his bid for reelection, as the vice president kicked off her campaign for the United States’ top job.
Her elevation to the top of ticket would bring new strengths for the Democrats.
According to recent polls, Ms Harris trails Trump, the former president, slightly – a roughly similar position to the one Biden found himself in before his historic announcement. But there may be more room for those numbers to shift as the campaign moves from a hypothetical matchup to a very real one, according to the analysts.
For at least a moment, Democrats have a jolt of energy after more than three weeks of intense hand-wringing over the president’s fitness and ability to sustain his campaign.
All of Ms Harris’s leading potential rivals for the nomination have endorsed her, as has former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi – who remains one of the most influential players in Democratic politics.
This is, still, shaping up to be a tight race in November – a condition that reflects deep partisan trenches in American politics and the distaste many voters have for Trump as a candidate, according to experts.
Source: APP