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Longtime Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey’s workplace has remained silent on whether or not the highly effective Keystone State lawmaker nonetheless endorses freshman Squad member Rep. Summer Lee in mild of backlash over her rhetoric on Israel.
Fox News Digital reached out to Casey’s Senate workplace, press secretary, chief of employees and marketing campaign repeatedly this week to see if the Democratic lawmaker endorses Lee in 2024, however obtained no responses.
Pennsylvania will once more function a key battleground state this election cycle as former President Donald Trump and President Biden are anticipated to face a rematch in a state that narrowly voted for Trump in 2016, and elected Biden in 2020 at a 1.17% margin.
Casey is additionally anticipated to have a tough election marketing campaign this 12 months as he defends his seat for the fourth time. His lack of response on whether or not he endorses the left-wing congresswoman and Squad member may imply a deepening divide between progressive Democrats and their extra reasonable counterparts over stances on the struggle in Israel.
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 25: U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) speaks throughout a information convention on well being care September 25, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Patient teams gathered on Capitol Hill to urged to reject the Graham-Cassidy well being care invoice. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Last week, a information report surfaced detailing that Lee, who was first elected to symbolize Pennsylvania’s twelfth congressional district in 2022, removed Casey’s name from a piece on her marketing campaign web site that communicates to tremendous PACs and different outdoors political teams that they may embrace his endorsement in political advertisements. The part of the web site is often known as a “red box,” and is utilized by political candidates to work round guidelines prohibiting political teams from immediately coordinating with a marketing campaign.
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Jewish Insider reported final week that as lately as March 7, Casey’s name was included inside the “red box” part on Rep. Lee’s marketing campaign site, however has since been removed and changed with Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ name and endorsement.
BALTIMORE – MARCH 2: Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., speaks throughout House Minority Whip Katherine Clarks information convention with freshman ladies of the 118th Congress on the House Democrats 2023 Issues Conference in Baltimore, Md., on Thursday, March 2, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc by way of Getty Images) (Getty Images)
“In her first year in office, Congresswoman Summer Lee has worked with the Biden Administration to deliver $1.2 billion dollars in investments (see video) to Allegheny and Westmoreland counties to improve transportation, create green jobs, clean our air and water, and expand affordable housing. That’s why she’s endorsed by the Democratic Party, Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO State Labor Council, SEIU and Planned Parenthood,” a piece of the pink field on the marketing campaign web site reads as of March 19.
Fox News Digital reached out a number of occasions to Lee’s congressional workplace, chief of employees, press secretary and marketing campaign for remark on why Casey’s name was removed from that part of the web site, however didn’t obtain any responses. Lee’s workplace additionally didn’t remark on questions relating to whether or not Casey endorses Lee’s 2024 run and if the name elimination was associated to the struggle in Israel.
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Casey’s name is nonetheless listed amongst a big swath of native and nationwide political figures on Lee’s official endorsements web page on her web site, alongside Lee’s fellow Squad members resembling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Progressive Caucus chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
(L-R) US Representative Summer Lee, Democrat of Pennsylvania, embraces US Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, as US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union tackle within the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP by way of Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Lee’s district is situated in southwestern Pennsylvania, and contains Pittsburgh and far of Allegheny County. Pittsburgh is dwelling to a big Jewish group, and the place the 2018 mass capturing on the synagogue Tree of Life killed 11 folks and wounded six others throughout Shabbat morning companies.
Lee has come underneath hearth in latest months from pro-Israel teams and the Jewish group for her rhetoric on the struggle in Israel, together with an open letter signed by dozens of rabbis condemning Lee for her “divisive rhetoric” they stated has been “perceived as openly antisemitic.”
Jewish group leaders within the Pittsburgh space have taken subject with Lee calling for a ceasefire shortly following the struggle starting in Israel, for voting towards a decision backing Israel and condemning Hamas in October, in addition to agreeing to attend a Muslim advocacy group’s occasion this month earlier than backing out.
The March letter was additionally signed by a handful of rabbis in Lee’s neighboring district, which is represented by Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio. Fox News Digital reached out to Deluzio’s marketing campaign and congressional workplace this week asking if he endorses Lee’s 2024 marketing campaign, however didn’t obtain remark again.
“Chris Deluzio has been awfully quiet when it comes to Summer Lee’s extreme antisemitism, and that’s unacceptable. Why won’t Deluzio say a word while Jewish groups in his own district are speaking out against her?” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella informed Fox News Digital of Deluzio.
Previous media reviews detailed that highly effective pro-Israel lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, had labored to recruit a candidate to problem Lee this election cycle over her Israel stance, after spending $5 million towards her marketing campaign in 2022, the Intercept reported. Shortly following the outbreak of struggle in Gaza, Lee joined fellow left-wing lawmakers in calling for a ceasefire in October, whereas President Biden and different Democrats pledged support to Israel because it battled Hamas.
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In January, AIPAC tweeted a message that tagged Lee, fellow Squad members Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush and others, stating “a Ceasefire Now keeps these monsters armed and in power.” AIPAC is the most important pro-Israel PAC within the nation, and is anticipated to spend $100 million this election cycle towards candidates they consider aren’t sufficiently pro-Israel, Politico reported earlier this month.
That similar month, three high House Democrats – Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar – endorsed Lee’s re-election.
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 31: Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., participates within the House Oversight and Accountability Committee organizing assembly within the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc by way of Getty Images) (Getty Images)
“A civil rights champion, advocate for organized labor and the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress, Summer Lee has worked tirelessly to deliver for working families,” the three leaders stated in a press release in January.
The elimination of Casey’s name from the “red box” web page on Lee’s marketing campaign web site may define a rising divide inside the Democratic Party amid the struggle in Israel.
Casey has lengthy been a Pennsylvania Democratic stalwart, first successful his election to the U.S. Senate in 2007. The Casey name additionally has deep roots within the state, with Bob Casey Sr., the senator’s father, serving because the Keystone State’s governor from 1987 to 1995, following years of serving in numerous different elected roles.
This 12 months, Casey is dealing with an anticipated closely-watched and uphill battle to carry onto his seat – which the longtime senator even conceded in an interview with NBC News final month. The Cook Political Report lists Casey’s seat as “leans Democrat,” whereas Casey’s 2024 race has repeatedly been listed as a must-watch this election cycle, as his seat may flip pink.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 05: (L-R) Actress Debra Messing, U.S. Sen Bob Casey (D-PA) recording artist Katy Perry and Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greet supporters throughout a get-out-the-vote live performance on the Mann Center for the Performing Arts on November 5, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With three days to go till election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Florida and Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
“It’ll be a close, tough race,” Casey stated final month. “But look, there’s a lot on the line every time. Every time I’ve run for public office in Pennsylvania, I’ve had to earn the vote and the trust of the people. And I got to do that, again.”
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Casey is anticipated to face off towards Republican Dave McCormick following the state’s primaries. McCormick is an Army fight veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, who served because the Commerce Department’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security in addition to Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs underneath former President George W. Bush’s administration. His spouse, Dina Powell, additionally served underneath former President Donald Trump’s administration as Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick meets with Israeli officers. (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)
McCormick final month referred to as for Lee’s “immediate resignation” whereas making an attempt to rally Casey to hitch him within the demand in a video posted to X. The video message got here in response to outrage over Lee agreeing to look as a speaker for a fundraiser hosted by the Philadelphia chapter of Muslim advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Lee finally canceled her look, following backlash, saying the cancelation was supposed “to prevent the Muslim community from being the target of any more politically motivated Islamophobia and to ensure my Jewish and LGBTQ+ constituents know their concerns are heard.”
McCormick has lengthy been calling out Lee’s rhetoric on Israel, together with proper after the struggle started in October, when Lee claimed Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza – which was a story promoted by shops such because the New York Times in October, earlier than the Times backtracked and stated it “relied too heavily on claims by Hamas.”
McCormick referred to as on Casey to rescind his endorsement of Lee in a remark to Fox News Digital.
“Summer Lee has been sowing the seeds of antisemitic hate as Hamas brutalizes the Israeli people. For Senator Bob Casey to sit idly by as she fails to stand up for Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, which she’s supposed to be representing, is dangerous. Casey needs to rescind his endorsement of Lee immediately. You can’t fight antisemitism and support Summer Lee,” McCormick informed Fox News Digital this week.
McCormick additionally addressed the report detailing how Lee’s marketing campaign quietly removed Casey’s name from the “red box” part of the marketing campaign web site in a tweet final week, saying Casey ought to “come out and rescind his endorsement” of Lee, however is as an alternative taking the “say-nothing, do-nothing” strategy.
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A latest Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey discovered McCormick is closing in on Casey, at 41% support to Casey’s 45%. The similar ballot discovered Trump has 47% of Pennsylvania voters in comparison with Biden’s 43%.
Casey got here underneath hearth from police teams this week, when a pro-defund the police group, Indivisible Philadelphia endorsed the Senator. Folcroft Deputy Police Chief and Delaware County FOP Lodge 27 President Chris Eiserman held a press convention on Wednesday, the place he slammed Casey for aligning himself with the progressive group, whereas pledging his support for McCormick within the election.
“At a time when there were four shootings in four days on our local public transit system, and law enforcement across the Commonwealth is understaffed, Casey’s decision to align himself with these defund the police activists is alarming and extremely dangerous,” Eiserman stated Wednesday.
Casey’s marketing campaign workplace did reply to Fox News Digital’s request for remark relating to Indivisible Philadelphia’s endorsement this week, saying the senator has supplied wanted instruments to legislation enforcement, whereas going after McCormick.
“Senator Casey has delivered hundreds of millions to fund bulletproof vests, SWAT gear, police cars, and ballistics shields for officers, and has worked alongside law enforcement to address threats like fentanyl trafficking,” marketing campaign spokesperson Maddy McDaniel stated. “David McCormick went against law enforcement when he opposed a border deal that was supported by border patrol, and he spent his career investing for the Chinese government, which is now teaming up with Mexican cartels to pump fentanyl into Pennsylvania. We can’t trust him to prioritize our safety — only his bottom line.”
The marketing campaign workplace didn’t tackle whether or not Casey agrees with Indivisible Philadelphia’s support of defunding the police in favor of funding social staff or medical professionals to deal with sure public issues of safety.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 15: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), stands with members of the U.S. Senate, (L-R), John Barrasso (R-WY), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Robert Casey (D-PA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Bob Menendez (R-NJ) and John McCain (R-AZ), throughout a gathering on the U.S. Capitol on February 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
The More than 40 rabbis and Jewish leaders within the Pittsburgh space who printed the open letter this month condemned Lee for what they stated was her failing to return by on a promise to “call out antisemitism and temper your own language.”
“Last fall we wrote to you with concerns about your rhetoric and votes in relation to the events of October 7 in Israel, the subsequent war and the rise in antisemitism in America,” the rabbis and Jewish leaders wrote within the letter. “You graciously agreed to meet with us, and in that meeting you promised us that you would call out antisemitism and temper your own language.”
“Sadly, three months later, you have not followed through on those commitments,” they wrote. The letter acknowledged Lee has “continued to use divisive rhetoric, which, at times, we have perceived as openly antisemitic.”
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Lee is dealing with a Democratic challenger within the main, which will likely be held on April 23, earlier than the final election on Nov. 5.
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