Progressive Leaders Urge Harris to Distance Herself from Biden on Gaza Issue
As the U.S. presidential election looms, the political ramifications of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’ continued support for President Joe Biden’s stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza are becoming increasingly significant. This comes particularly as new polls indicate Harris is slightly behind Republican contender Donald Trump in Michigan—a key swing state.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll, published Wednesday, shows Harris lagging behind Trump by three points in Michigan, a shift from last month’s results where she was slightly ahead. The poll also notes Harris’ lead in Pennsylvania, while Trump edges ahead in Wisconsin.
Despite Trump’s marginal lead being within the error margin, this signals growing concerns about Harris’ performance in Michigan, a state with a substantial Arab and Muslim population. Many residents have family ties to the Gaza Strip, which has been under severe military attack from Israel for over a year, with violence escalating recently as hopes for a ceasefire diminish.
According to the Quinnipiac poll, 53% of Michigan voters believe Trump, who has supported Israel’s intensive military actions, would handle the Middle East conflict better than Harris, who received only 43% of voter confidence.
James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, expressed his concerns to Rolling Stone, stating the importance of giving voters a reason to support Harris. Zogby criticized the Harris campaign for disregarding the significance of the Arab American vote.
Zogby’s own polling last month suggested that national support for Harris could increase if she supported an arms embargo against Israel, a stance she has thus far opposed despite pressure from various advocacy groups. They argue that such measures are crucial to halt Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s disruption of ceasefire negotiations.
Zogby highlighted that Michigan has the largest Lebanese American population in the U.S., which could further jeopardize Harris’ position as Israel intensifies its military activities in Lebanon with backing from the Biden administration.
Zogby mentioned that many Lebanese Americans have close connections to Palestinians, and the escalating conflict could lead to voter apathy or a shift in their vote.
“The feedback I receive while traveling across the country is a desire to penalize Democrats,” Zogby reported. “It’s not a wise political strategy, but it reflects current sentiments. Unfortunately, the Harris campaign hasn’t provided us with reasons to argue otherwise.”
“Harris should deliver a speech in Michigan where she publicly disagrees with the Biden administration’s policy on Israel.”
Despite acknowledging the “immense suffering of innocent Palestinians in Gaza” during her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, Harris has yet to distance herself from the Biden administration’s firm support of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
When questioned in a recent interview if she would consider halting U.S. arms sales to Israel, Harris simply answered, “No.” These arms have been used by Israeli forces accused of committing war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.
Additionally, Harris has declined meetings with Americans who have family in Lebanon and Gaza, as noted by a co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement.
Nathan J. Robinson pointedly tweeted about the political miscalculation of ignoring the Arab American community in Michigan, a state Trump narrowly won in 2016 by approximately 10,000 votes.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, of Lebanese descent, told Mother Jones that while Trump poses a threat to Arab Americans, Harris is not making a strong case for their support by opposing an arms embargo against Israel—a stance favored by a majority of American voters according to recent polls.
Hammoud emphasized the need for candidates to align with the broader American values and concerns, rather than expecting communities like Dearborn to shift their stances.
“People will remember,” Hammoud warned, referencing the ongoing genocide discussions. “This isn’t something the public is likely to forget by November.”
Emerson College and The Hill published survey data on Thursday showing Trump and Harris neck-and-neck in Michigan, indicating that any minor shift could be decisive in the presidential race.
Moira Donegan of The Guardian suggested that Harris should “definitely make a speech in Michigan breaking with the Biden administration on Israel,” a move she believes would greatly benefit Harris politically, though she remains skeptical of Harris following this advice.
IfNotNow co-founder Yonah Lieberman echoed this sentiment, stating that such a move would not only potentially secure Michigan for Harris but also play a critical role in preventing a second Trump presidency and addressing the humanitarian crisis.
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