Potential pro-Palestine contender poses risk to Biden's potential re-election campaign, according to American survey.
In the ever-evolving political landscape of the US, Cornel West's announcement for the 2024 presidential race is causing ripples, ‘possibly’ denting Joe Biden's re-election bid. The renowned philosopher and scholar has jumped into the fray, proposing a 'third option' – one countering the alleged 'neo-fascism' and 'neoliberalism'. This bold move has sparked speculation that West's vocal support for Palestine and other progressive causes could divide the Democrat vote, handing the victory to a potential Republican candidate.
A poll by Emerson College paints a tight picture, with Biden and Trump neck-and-neck, each securing 44% and 43% of the votes, respectively. Introduce a third-party candidate like West, the numbers shift: Biden's support falls to 40%, Trump's to 41%, West gets a notable 6%, while 7% vote for another contender, and the undecided voters rise to a significant 6%.
The winds of change among Democrats are evident, according to a March Gallup poll. For the first time in US history, sympathy for Palestinians surpasses sympathy for Israelis among Democrats, with nearly half at 49%, while only 38% sympathize with Israel. This shift mirrors an 11-point increase in sympathy for the Palestinians over the past year and a staggering 29-point increase over the last decade. The trend for Israel, however, is going the opposite way: it hovered between 50-60% for decades but has plummeted since 2014.
West’s unyielding support for the Palestinian cause, combined with the anti-Israel sentiments growing within the Democrats, could potentially jeopardize the 80-year-old Biden's re-election bid. West has been a vocal supporter of the global boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement and has consistently criticized the Democratic Party establishment for treating the matter as a 'taboo' and a 'third rail'.
"BDS is not a homogenous movement," West said in an interview. "There are a lot of different voices, but it is the only nonviolent response I can see to the very ugly occupation, and I would do exactly the same if there was a Palestinian occupation of Jews. It’s a moral issue, a spiritual issue." West's unwavering solidarity with the Palestinians has invited hostility from pro-Israel advocates – to the extent that Harvard University allegedly denied him tenure due to his support for the Palestinians.
Despite his slim chances of winning the White House in 2024, West has expressed a goal of forcing critical conversations about wealth and justice onto the national stage. There is 'virtually no chance' West will prevail, but his campaign may have broader, long-term implications – 'elevating foreign policy debates' on college campuses and among progressive groups, and reinforcing progressive coalitions 'prioritizing anti-war and Palestinian rights agendas'.
- The developments in the 2024 presidential race are intriguing, with Cornel West's entry potentially impacting Joe Biden's re-election bid.
- In the latest poll by Emerson College, Biden and Trump stand nearly equal at 44% and 43%, respectively, while West gains a significant 6% with other contenders receiving 7%.
- There's a shift among Democrats, as shown by a March Gallup poll, with nearly half of Democrats now sympathizing more with Palestinians (49%) than with Israelis (38%).
- West, known for his support of Palestine, could pose a threat to Biden's re-election given the increasing anti-Israel sentiments among Democrats.
- West has been a strong advocate for the BDS movement and has criticized the Democratic Party for treating the issue as a taboo.
- In an interview, West defended BDS, stating it is the only nonviolent response to the ongoing occupation, and he would support it if the roles were reversed.
- Despite the controversy surrounding his support for Palestine, West aims to elevate conversations about wealth and justice on a national level.
- West's campaign could have far-reaching implications, including sparking debates about foreign policy on college campuses and within progressive groups.
- Given the increasing emphasis on anti-war and Palestinian rights in progressive coalitions, West's campaign may reinforce these agendas.
- West's unwavering support for Palestine has garnered hostility from pro-Israel advocates, even allegedly prompting the denial of tenure at Harvard University.
- As the elections approach, international news outlets, politics sections, and general news sites inevitably will cover West's campaign and its potential effects on US-Israel relations and the wider Middle East.
- In light of West's entry into the race, policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, and war-and-conflicts sections of news platforms may also delve into the growing discord between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine advocates.
- Beyond the 2024 presidential election, West's campaign could inspire other political figures to prioritize migration issues and address the complexities of casino-and-gambling policies and casino-personalities in the political landscape.
