Voters in Dearborn, Michigan, who led the campaign against President Biden’s reelection, are unlikely to support Vice President Harris after she chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
“No,” Mike Hachem, leader of the Dearborn Leave Biden Movement, told Fox News Digital when asked if Walz’s choice would affect the community’s support for Harris. “He means nothing to the Arab and Muslim community, especially in Michigan. He’s just a young Joe Biden.”
The obvious answer is that some have speculated that Harris chose Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, the only Jewish candidate under consideration, to appease far-left Democratic lawmakers sympathetic to Gaza residents and the thousands of voters in Dearborn who could be key to her victory in the key battleground state of Michigan.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (Anthony Souffre/Star Tribune via The Associated Press/File)
Leaders of the National Unfettered Movement, inspired by the “Listen to Michigan” and “Drop Biden” movements, spoke briefly with Harris before her campaign rally in Detroit on Wednesday. According to a New York Times report on the conversation, the leaders emphasized their demand that the U.S. impose an arms embargo on Israel and asked to meet with the vice president to discuss the demand. Harris said she was available to meet.
Reports of the meeting sparked widespread concern among Israeli supporters that Ms Harris was open to the idea of an embargo, but her national security adviser sought to clarify that view.
“[Harris] “She has always been clear that she will ensure that Israel can defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations,” adviser Phil Gordon said in a post on X. “She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and uphold international humanitarian law.”
Still, the moment showed that to win Michigan, Harris will have to walk a fine line between maintaining her support for Israel while showing sympathy and understanding for those most outraged by the carnage in Gaza.
Hachem said there was nothing Harris could have done to win the support of most of the Dearborn community, and noted that the vice president actually made a wrong move by yelling at and silencing protesters who interrupted her at the Detroit rally.
Comedian Michael Rapaport said Harris lost the vote to Israel: “I can’t support a party that supports these idiots.”
“She has further alienated the Arab and Muslim communities,” he said, noting that many of their members are “prepared to support” former President Trump over Harris.
Former President Trump (Shawn Rayford/Getty Images/File)
But Abed Ayub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, was more optimistic, telling Fox News Digital that while picking Walz didn’t guarantee Harris support within the Muslim community, it at least left the door open.
“He can connect with people and seems like an overall nice guy, but that won’t win. It won’t be enough to win votes and regain the support of the community,” Ayub said.
Instead, Ayub argued that picking Harris at least gave her a lifeline, while choosing Shapiro likely closed the vice president’s chances of winning over supporters in the Arab community.
“His opposition to student camps, his past comments and his degrading attitude towards Arabs and Palestinians,” Ayub said, listing some of the reasons why Shapiro’s candidacy would close the door on his support. “He has maintained an anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian stance throughout his career and most of his adult life.”
Democratic presidential candidate Harris and running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz arrive at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on August 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Luke)
Ayub said with Walz running instead, Harris now needs to focus on policy changes that could help her win support, citing a possible arms embargo on Israel as a step that could help Harris win support within the community.
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“They should clarify their policy position immediately,” Ayub said. “Instead of waiting, they should make an immediate commitment.”
The Harris campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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