Biden sanctioned on Gaza in Michigan vote

Joe Biden won Michigan's Democratic primary took place on Tuesday, but was heavily contested. severely punished for his support &agrav; Israelël in this Stateà strong Muslim and Arab population, a result which could bode ill for its chances of re-election.

According to initial estimates, more than 50,000 “uncommitted” votes, the equivalent of a blank vote, were cast at the ballot boxes in this state, responding to a call to put pressure on the president American for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

This result is worrying for the Democratic leader because he narrowly won this state against Donald Trump four years ago. Each defection undermines his chances of being re-elected in the November presidential election.

Activists from this key region of the Midwest had launched the “Listen to Michigan” campaign (Listen to the Michigan), to deliver a “powerful and unequivocal message” that financing and supporting the war in Gaza is “contradictory to the values ​​of the Democratic Party.”

“President Biden is funding the bombs that are falling on relatives of families living right here in Michigan, people who voted for him and who feel completely betrayed,” explained Layla Elabed, a leader of the group.

Joe Biden speaks alongside Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at a campaign event in Detroit on February 1 © AFP – Mandel NGAN

As civilian casualties rise in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Joe Biden has seen his support erode significantly among Muslims and Arab Americans, an electorate that had was decisive in his victory against Donald Trump in 2020.

The Democratic leader only won this northern state by 150,000 votes four years ago.

– “Exceeded expectations” –

Reacting to his victory in this primary on Tuesday in a press release, Joe Biden thanked “all the people of Michigan who made their voices heard”, without mentioning this protest vote.

White House officials display growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his conduct of the war in Gaza.

However, the United States continues to deliver quantities of weapons to Israel, while leading intense efforts to negotiate a second truce in the war provoked by the bloody attack by Hamas on October 7 on Israeli soil.

In Dearborn on February 27, 2024 © AFP – JEFF KOWALSKY

Joe Biden has asked Congress for billions of dollars in additional military aid for Israel, and his administration has vetoed several UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire.< /p>

The “Listen to Michigan” group wanted to mobilize at least 10,000 voters for its campaign, a figure that is not just symbolic, activists say. A goal already easily exceeded.

“Our movement was victorious this evening and far exceeded our expectations”, he underlined in a press release.< /p>

“I was proud today (…) to vote blank,” said Rashida Tlaib, elected representative from Michigan of Palestinian origin, urging Joe Biden to listen ” the majority of Americans who say 'Enough'. Enough of wars, enough of using our dollars to finance genocide.”

– Trump on his way –

Fatima Elzaghir also voted blank in this election, she told AFP on Tuesday.

“It's obvious that appealing to empathy doesn't hold sway with most politicians. So perhaps the fact that (Biden) wants to win Michigan will push him to a cease-and-desist. fire”, declared this young nurse.

Joe Biden's only real opponent for the Democratic nomination was Dean Phillips, a wealthy congressman from the state of Minnesota, which received only 2.8% of the votes, according to initial estimates.

Donald Trump at CPAC on February 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland © AFP – Mandel NGAN

On the Republican side, Donald Trump has already won hands down four states that voted, including South Carolina on Saturday, and Michigan has, for the moment, not interrupted its march towards the nomination Republican this summer.

For its primaries, the Republican Party opted for a complex hybrid system which will conclude four days later.

Her only remaining opponent, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, lost in her home state of South Carolina, but she refuses to give up, saying she doesn't believe Donald Trump could defeat Joe Biden in November.

All rights of reproduction and representation reserved. © (2024) Agence France-Presse