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US President Joe Biden received a lesson during his Democratic Party’s primaries in Michigan. According to preliminary results published on Wednesday, Biden clearly won the vote with around 81 percent of the vote – but more than 100,000 participants withheld their votes.
In protest of the president’s Middle East policy, they checked “not recorded” (“neutral”), which is equivalent to a blank ballot.
The “Listen to Michigan” campaign called for denying the president a vote in Tuesday’s primaries. The result is a “loud and clear message” to Biden for a “permanent ceasefire” in the Gaza war, Layla Elabed, one of the campaign leaders, said at a news conference.
Ten times the expected number of participants
The Midwestern state has a large share of Muslim voters with roots in the Middle East and North Africa. Abdullah Hammud, mayor of the predominantly Arab and Muslim Detroit suburb of Dearborn, said he hoped Biden would choose “democracy over tyranny” and the American people over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
‘Listen to Michigan’ had set itself the goal of winning 10,000 votes for ‘neutral’. The fact that this target has been exceeded so significantly is a warning sign for Biden. Michigan is one of the so-called swing states without a clear political preference; the results in these states ultimately determine the outcome of the presidential election.
The US president thanked Michigan voters in a statement. He emphasized his commitment to the state’s middle class, but acknowledged that there is still “a lot to do.” The president didn’t mention “Listen to Michigan” at all.
310,000 Muslims in Michigan
Since October 7, the Israeli army has carried out massive attacks in the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 30,000 people, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The figures cannot be independently verified but are considered credible by the UN.
The Biden administration says it is committed to a ceasefire, but is still supplying weapons to Israel. The ‘Listen to Michigan’ campaign was one of the highlights of the protests that have been going on in the US for months against Israeli warfare and the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict.
Michigan is the state with the largest share of Muslim voters in the country. According to the US Census Bureau, 310,000 people who say they have roots in the Middle East and North Africa live there.
Biden narrowly won the state
In 2020, Michigan contributed significantly to Biden’s victory over Trump. However, Biden’s lead over the then president there was only about 150,00 votes.
On the Republican side, US broadcasters predicted Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday evening (local time), just seconds after the polls closed in Michigan. Due to his party’s complex primary system in the state, the ex-president will have to wait until the weekend for confirmation. In the presidential elections on November 5, everything comes down to a new duel between Biden and Trump. (AFP/Mrs)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
