USSC Associate Professor Dr David Smith talks to ABC Drive about President Biden's recent decision to pause a shipment of offensive arms to Israel amid concerns about military operations in Rafah.
Marking a shift in US policy, Dr Smith highlights that this is the first time Biden has openly acknowledged that "American weapons are being used to kill Palestinian civilians in a way that he is not happy about."
While "the Gaza conflict [is] not likely to be a significant factor for most Americans when they vote," Dr Smith recognises its impact at the electoral margins.
"This is going to be a very close contest," Dr Smith continues. "The votes [Biden] is most likely to lose on this issue are from parts of the Democratic base that believe he has been too one-sided in his support for Israel."