DEARBORN: Following a far larger-than-expected protest vote in the Michigan primary over the president’s support of Israel, Joe Biden’s campaign and top Democratic officials pledged to step up efforts to win back former supporters.
around weeks of activism, 13.2% of Michigan Democrats voted “uncommitted” in the nomination process, according to an Edison Research count that was released around 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The uncommitted vote was already above 101,000 votes, much higher than anticipated, with around 85% of all ballots counted. About 900,000 people cast ballots in the Democratic primaries, which had a strong turnout as well. Biden received about 81 percent of those votes.
A senior Biden campaign official stated that the team will keep “making our case in the state — to both uncommitted voters and the entire Michigan constituency” as the results were being totaled. The president is going to keep pushing for Middle East peace.
Biden’s unwavering backing of Israel during its devastating five-month conflict with Hamas has provoked anger and a well-coordinated pushback among progressive Democrats as well as Arab Americans, with Michigan serving as the epicenter.
13.2% of Michigan Democrats voted in the nominating process with the label “uncommitted.”
They encouraged Biden to strive for 10,000 votes, a historically low number, in the general election in November and to press for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, condition aid to Israel, and encourage pro-Israel Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in the primary.
In Michigan’s 2012 Democratic primary, which took place when the state’s Democratic president was running for reelection, almost 20,000 undecided votes were cast.
In 2020, Biden won Michigan by a margin of less than 3 percentage points; however, in this head-to-head contest, some polls indicate that Donald Trump, the expected Republican nominee, will prevail.Democratic politicians in Michigan pledged to exert greater influence over voters. “As the results came in on Tuesday night, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II informed volunteers working for Biden that tomorrow was the first day of this general election.”
People exercising their democratic right is not something we fear. Voters do not frighten us. Because they have good intentions, we don’t fear those who are willing to speak up in good faith and conscience,” he stated.
Mike Frosolone, the campaign manager for Biden in Michigan, informed party organizers that their focus would shift to the state’s general election campaign, involving door knocking, phone banking, and the establishment of many offices throughout the state.
“We are confident that voters will select President Biden when they compare his record with that of Donald Trump,” he stated. He stated that on March 7, Biden would present this argument in his State of the Union speech.
Like his predecessor, 77-year-old President Trump, Biden, at81, has low approval ratings overall and his age is a source of concern. This month, a New York judge legally ordered Trump to pay roughly $450 million for deceitfully manipulating his net worth. In addition, Trump has entered a not guilty plea to four other criminal prosecutions.
In the Michigan primary, over 35% of Republicans supported ex South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, which might also be seen as a sign of weakness for Trump. In a general election, some of her supporters have declared they will not support Trump.
