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Former President Donald Trump was forced to cancel a campaign stop in Brooklyn, New York, after the unexpected passing of a nearby restaurant owner.
Trump’s presence at Gottlieb’s Restaurant was planned, and both local media and supporters had been looking forward to it. However, the visit was canceled due to the unexpected death of the restaurant’s owner, according to police sources who spoke with PIX11 News.
Following the death of 75-year-old Sholem Yosef Gottlieb, Trump’s scheduled visit to the family-owned Kosher establishment in South Williamsburg has been canceled. Posters and police barricades are still in place outside the arena as Trump’s loyal constituency, the Hasidic community, adjusts to the sudden change in schedule.
The longtime owner of the popular restaurant, Yosef, was well-known for his generosity and numerous private charitable deeds (chesed b’tzina). Secret Service agents had examined the eatery earlier in the week to make sure it complied with security requirements for the Republican nominee’s visit.
“It’s upsetting, community was looking [forward] to seeing him over here,” Moses Weiser, a friend of the Gottlieb family, expressed to NBC New York. A sign posted on the restaurant indicates it will remain closed until September 25 while the family grieves.
The sad news was broken to visitors from all around the world on a cuisine tour as an NBC New York team was interviewing neighbors and family about Gottlieb’s passing.
The restaurant was established in 1962 by the Holocaust survivor father of Sholem Yosef Gottlieb, and it soon rose to prominence in South Williamsburg. Gottlieb’s was well known for its dedication to delivering meals to those in need.
Owner of Gottlieb’s allegedly dies hours ahead of Trump visit
Trump was to visit Gottlieb’s Deli in Williamsburg — where he enjoys support among the Hasidic Jewish community.
An MTA official tells me the appearance has been canceled.
Word is the owner had already been sick. pic.twitter.com/Dt9bjfVeb0
— Taylor Craig (@TaylorCraig) September 19, 2024
This comes as Trump is holding onto his national lead despite a surge in Democratic enthusiasm following Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry into the race.
According to the latest New York Times/Siena poll released on Sunday, Trump has the support of 48% of likely voters, while Harris has 47%. These numbers are nearly identical to those from the previous New York Times/Siena poll conducted after President Biden withdrew from the race in late July, which also showed Trump leading by 48-47, Fox News reported.
The poll follows weeks of heightened enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket after Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden. Despite these changes, the New York Times noted that Trump’s support remains “remarkably resilient” amid the shifting election landscape.
The poll reveals that Harris has not yet convinced voters of her vision for the country, with 28% of respondents feeling they need more information about her before offering their support. In contrast, only 9% of respondents expressed similar concerns about Trump.
“I don’t know what Kamala’s plans are,” said Dawn Conley, a 48-year-old small-business owner in Knoxville, Tenn., who is leaning toward Trump, told the Times.
The poll also indicates that although Kamala Harris has made some progress with key demographics within the Democratic coalition following Biden’s exit, she is still underperforming in traditionally strong Democratic groups such as women and Latino voters.
Additionally, Harris faces a challenge with voters’ desire for change: 60% expressed a preference for a significant shift from Biden’s policies. Only 25% of respondents believe Harris would provide that change, while 53% feel that Trump would, the Times survey found.
Trump is also making inroads with traditional Democrat voting blocs. According to new polling from NPR/PBS News/Marist, Trump has surpassed Harris by three points among independents in a multi-candidate race, 49% to 46%.
This represents a considerable increase since August, when Trump trailed Harris, 59, by 11 points, 48% to 37%. Trump has gained roughly 14 points among independents and 19 points among Latino voters, the survey found.
