John Fetterman wants to help Andy Kim win NJ Senate seat. This is how he can do the most

Once upon a time, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were two U.S. senators representing the state of Minnesota: Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey. Together, they formed a partnership, constituting the quintessence of Democratic Party populism of their era.McCarthy and Humphrey had two different styles of populistic outreach. McCarthy’s appeal was based on his unique reflective intellectual erudition. This enabled him to generate enthusiasm, even adulation, among suburban liberal and young voters. Humphrey’s optimism and passion made him a favorite of urban voters and ethnic minorities, particularly Jews and African Americans.By 1964, both Humphrey and McCarthy were so effective as senators, politically and governmentally, that they each were under consideration by Lyndon Johnson for his vice presidential running mate. After the Johnson administration escalated American involvement in Vietnam in 1965, the McCarthy-Humphrey alliance dissolved, with McCarthy opposing the war and Humphrey, now vice president, defending administration policy.

A new alliance is emerging

An alliance is now occurring in the election of 2024 that is reminiscent of the Humphrey-McCarthy partnership, namely between New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. Fetterman has endorsed Kim in the 2024 New Jersey primary for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination.

Kim exemplifies the style of Gene McCarthy. Fetterman projects the optimism of Humphrey, albeit without Hubert’s ever-present smile.

Fetterman’s optimism is a product of his successful battle against depression. This personal victory, along with his iconoclasm, including his insistence on constant casual dress and willingness to take positions independent of those of his former Democratic progressive allies, has made Fetterman a subject of national favorable publicity. The question for these two political partners is how John can best benefit the Kim senatorial campaign.

Certainly, Fetterman will be involved with fundraising, where he has the status of being a “star” attraction. Yet in my view, it is more important for Kim that Fetterman personally campaign for him among two constituencies where Andy needs help: 1. Urban voters, particularly African American, Hispanic and white working-class families, and 2. Jewish voters.

Kim’s opponent, New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, currently maintains an advantage with these constituencies, and anything Fetterman can do to help close the gap for Kim could significantly enhance his victory chances.

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, not far from Braddock, where Fetterman was mayor. Having lived in my youth among working-class voters, I fully understand how Fetterman’s style resonates deeply with them. Kim’s style, while not offensive to urban working-class voters, is more appealing to suburbanites. A few Fetterman appearances in New Jersey urban working-class areas could add rocket fuel to the Kim campaign.

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How will NJ Jews vote?

For the most part, the New Jersey Jewish community is undecided between Murphy and Kim. Since he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, Kim has been a consistent supporter of American assistance to Israel‘s Iron Dome, an air defense system against rockets using radar and interceptor missiles. He also has been an unequivocal supporter of Israel since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

Yet doubts persist in the Jewish community about Kim due to two factors in his past record regarding the American-Israel alliance. The first was the support he received in his successful 2018 campaign from J Street, an organization viewed at that time among many Jews as basically a Jewish appeasement lobby. The second was his position regarding the 2021 hostilities between Israel and Hamas, a position that can best be described as “moral equivalence.”

Fetterman is now receiving fervent support from Jews nationally, because of his express outspoken repudiation of his erstwhile progressive Democratic allies on two issues: Israel and immigration. If he assures Jewish New Jersey voters that Kim can be trusted to be a friend of Israel, this will go a long way in assuaging Jewish concerns about Kim and undoubtedly will increase his Jewish support.

All things considered, the endorsement of Kim by Fetterman is a potentially powerful asset to the Kim campaign. It is not hyperbole to suggest that the outcome of the Murphy-Kim primary contest may well be determined by how effectively this asset is used.

Alan J. Steinberg of Highland Park, New Jersey, served as regional administrator of Region 2 U.S. EPA during the administration of former President George W. Bush and executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin Law School.  

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: How John Fetterman could best benefit the Andy Kim campaign