Biden is in deep trouble heading into this election.
President Biden strategically emphasized his strengths during his recent visit to Michigan, focusing on engagements with the Black community and the United Auto Workers (UAW). His interaction with Black community leaders, a visit to a Black-owned restaurant, and a speech at a UAW hall underscored his efforts to secure the support of key demographics crucial for his potential reelection.
Despite these endeavors, underlying tensions with the Arab American population in Michigan lingered during the visit. Notably absent from Biden’s itinerary was Dearborn, where Arab Americans constitute a significant majority. Additionally, there were no scheduled meetings with Arab American leaders, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a vocal critic of the Gaza situation, did not accompany the President.
Protests against Biden’s visit occurred in Dearborn, with demonstrators near the union hall in Warren expressing discontent. The publicly available White House schedule for the trip lacked specificity, prompting questions from reporters. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asserted that President Biden engages with Americans of diverse opinions on the Israel-Hamas conflict, with regular contact maintained with Muslim and Arab American leaders.
Acknowledging frustration among Arab Americans, Jean-Pierre announced upcoming visits by senior Biden administration officials to Michigan to directly engage with community leaders. The President has faced criticism for his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, supporting Israel’s right to respond to Hamas attacks and advocating for humanitarian pauses.
The discontent among Arab American voters is evident in polling data, showing a significant drop in support for Biden after the conflict began. Michigan, a pivotal swing state, has become crucial for Biden’s potential reelection. Recent polls indicate a narrow gap between Biden and former President Trump in the state.
During his visit, Biden leveraged the UAW endorsement momentum, emphasizing the importance of labor in building the middle class and the nation’s strength. The UAW endorsement event, held in Washington, D.C., the previous week, fueled Biden’s commitment to securing the presidency. The President, accompanied by prominent Michigan political figures, vowed to continue the fight for the middle class and expressed confidence in his reelection prospects.