CNN's "The Story" host Elex Michaelson remarked how Georgia Sen.Jon Ossoff "may not read as Jewish" as potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates like Pennsylvania Gov.
Josh Shapiro during Tuesday night's show.During a panel with Los Angeles County Republican Party Chair Roxanne Beckford Hoge and political commentator Eric Messersmith, the three discussed Ossoff's chances of becoming a presidential candidate after recent betting odds websites placed him second behind California Gov.Gavin Newsom.Hoge expressed doubts that Ossoff could overcome the Democratic Party "playing footsie with anti-semites" to become a candidate, but Messersmith defended Ossoff as disciplined and very "on message," despite being untested on the national stage.JOSH SHAPIRO WARNS THAT ATTACKS ON AIPAC ARE BEING USED TO 'SILENCE CERTAIN VOTERS'A CNN panel discussed Georgia Sen.
Jon Ossoff's chance of running for president in 2028.(Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images)"But on the Jewish thing, because he is Jewish, he might be the Democrat that can thread the needle.
Because even though he’s Jewish, he’s very critical of the Israeli government, very critical of Benjamin Netanyahu," Messersmith said."He has credibility on that issue.
So it’s possible—I think he could fill that lane in between the two extremes of the Democratic Party."Michaelson responded, "Yeah, as a Jew, some people read a little more Jewish than other people, and Jon Ossoff may not read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro does, for whatever that’s worth."Fox News Digital reached out to Shapiro and Ossoff's offices for comment.Michaelson and Messersmith's comments received some backlash for appearing to rank Democratic candidates on how "Jewish" they appear.BATYA UNGAR-SARGON EXPLAINS WHY SO MANY AMERICAN JEWS BECAME DEMS — AND WHY SOME NOW FEEL POLITICALLY HOMELESSPennsylvania Gov.Josh Shapiro speaks during a re-election campaign kickoff event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Jan.
8, 2026.(Rachel Wisn...