Middle East Conflict, Hurricane Impact, and Strikes Create Challenges for Harris
Oct 2, 2024
President Biden is facing missile strikes in Israel, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and a dockworkers' strike, all as political challenges mount ahead of the election.
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On Tuesday, the White House displayed the number “100” on the north lawn. This was to celebrate former President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday. Carter only served one term as president, dealing with big problems like high inflation and the Iran hostage crisis.
Now, President Joe Biden is facing tough challenges of his own. Iran has fired more than 180 missiles into Israel, six US states are struggling after Hurricane Helene hit, and 45,000 dockworkers have gone on strike, shutting down ports from Maine to Texas.
Unlike Carter, Biden already knows he will not run for president again next month. But there are still questions about how these problems will affect Vice President Kamala Harris, who hopes to take his place.
Donald Trump, who is running against Harris, quickly criticized her and Biden. “The world is on fire, and we have no leadership,” Trump said.
He accused them of not doing enough while Harris was fundraising in San Francisco.
The big question now is whether this will hurt Harris’s chances. Democrats are likely happy that Biden is not running again after his poor debate performance in June.
In the past three years, Biden has faced major global issues: the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and now, the fight between Israel and Hamas in 2023.
Biden has had a hard time convincing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree with him. Last week, Biden said there would be a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon and thought Netanyahu was on board. But the very next day, Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, showing Biden's limits in controlling the situation.
Now, after Iran’s missile strikes, Israel has promised to hit back. Republicans are ready to criticize Biden. Nikki Haley, who was the US ambassador to the United Nations, told Fox News, “During Trump’s time, there were no wars or conflicts because our allies knew where we stood. With Biden and Harris, no one knows where we stand.”
Trump and other Republicans want people to believe that the world was safer during his presidency. However, Trump canceled the Iran nuclear deal and made a deal to end the Afghanistan war. It’s also harder to blame Biden now that he’s not running for president anymore, as Harris leads the race.
Harris has been careful in supporting Biden while also promoting herself as a fresh candidate. She praises Biden but avoids talking about “Bidenomics,” as she tries to be seen as a new leader.
These recent events are testing Harris’s leadership. Some activists want her to take a stronger stand on Israel and Palestine, but so far, she hasn’t made any big changes. Some groups, like the Uncommitted National Movement, have decided not to support her because she hasn’t shifted US weapons policies.
At a recent White House press briefing, reporters asked about Harris’s role during the missile attacks. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Harris was in the situation room with Biden. Later, Harris made a surprise public statement, showing her commitment to Israel’s security.
Meanwhile, both Biden and Harris are responding to Hurricane Helene’s damage. The hurricane hit Florida last Thursday, killing at least 150 people and destroying many homes and businesses. Harris plans to visit Georgia and North Carolina soon to help assess the damage.
However, the dockworkers’ strike could have the biggest impact on the election.
The strike, which has shut down ports across the country, could lead to shortages and higher prices if it continues. This would be a big advantage for Trump, who has already blamed Harris for the strike.
As October goes on, it will be important to see how these crises will affect Harris and her chances in the election.
