Is Kamala Harris sabotaging her Michigan bid?: Foreign Policy

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Foreign Policy
2 Nov 2024 15:54

Emma Ashford, a columnist at Foreign Policy, highlights the convergence in Trump and Harris's positions on Israel as particularly noteworthy, especially as many voters seek clearer, differentiated stances.

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US VP Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event at Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence on the Scott Northern Wake Campus of Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina, on August 16, 2024. (AP)

A peculiar aspect of the 2024 political campaign is the nearly indistinguishable position held by Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump regarding "Israel" and the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Emma Ashford, a columnist at Foreign Policy, pointed out that this lack of differentiation is striking, especially in a landscape where many voters are looking for clear stances on such critical issues.

Recent comments from Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance suggested that US and Israeli interests might not always align perfectly.

Furthermore, reports indicated that Trump has urged Netanyahu to wrap up the ongoing war by Inauguration Day.

These developments imply, as per the author, that Republicans may be taking a more nuanced and strategic approach to Middle East policy than their Democratic counterparts.

'A complete mess'

In Ashford's view, this shift suggests that it reflects a growing recognition within the Republican Party of the complexities involved in U.S.-"Israel" relations and the broader geopolitical landscape in the region.

Furthermore, she suggested that the Harris campaign is attempting to carefully balance its approach to appeal to both Arab and Jewish voters in different states.

"Tactically, however, it’s a complete mess."

In further detail, Ashford argued that the Harris campaign's strategy is fundamentally flawed. In Michigan, home to a significant Arab population—particularly of Lebanese descent—Harris appeared alongside Liz Cheney, a staunch proponent of the Iraq War. Compounding the misstep, the campaign enlisted former President Bill Clinton to address voters, where he emphasized that Israelis have been in the region longer than Islam has existed.

This approach, according to the author, underscores a lack of sensitivity to the concerns of Arab voters and raises questions about the overall effectiveness of the campaign.

The Trump campaign has been taking advantage of the situation, as per the author.

No great choices for Arab Americans

During a rally in Michigan, Trump referenced Liz Cheney, noting her father's role in the invasion of the Middle East, which he claimed resulted in the killing of millions of Arabs. Additionally, the campaign contacted an activist who was removed from a Harris campaign event in an effort to film a commercial addressing that incident, as pointed out by the author.

"Arab American voters in Michigan don’t have great choices," she said.

A potential Trump administration is expected to follow a comparable trajectory regarding "Israel", with many of his supporters and campaign representatives having voiced racist remarks about Muslims. However, polling in Michigan shows that Trump and Harris are closely matched. According to the author, even minor changes in voter support for Trump, or a decrease in voter turnout, could significantly impact the election outcome.

The author concluded by questioning whether the Harris campaign is genuinely aiming to lose Michigan, suggesting that the campaign's current strategies may inadvertently lead to such a scenario.

"Is the Harris campaign actually trying to lose Michigan?" Ashford asked.