Rashida Tlaib refuses to endorse Kamala Harris

Representative Rashida Tlaib publicly refused to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally in Detroit, a decision that could hurt Michigan Democrats’ prospects ahead of the 2024 election.

According to his reports The New York Post and Fox News, Tlaib was joined on stage by fellow team member New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and United Auto Workers (UAW) chief Shawn Fain. While Ocasio-Cortez and Fain supported Harris and praised her, Tlaib avoided any mention of the vice president, urging Michiganders to instead attend tthe electoral process.

“Don’t underestimate the power you all have. More than those ads, those lawn signs, those billboards, you all have more power to convert people who understand that we have to fight corporate greed in our country… We have to make sure that the nonpartisan side of the ballot vote is completed,” Tlaib reportedly told attendees.

Tlaib’s reluctance to endorse Harris reflects her displeasure with The Biden-Harris Administrationmanaging Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. As the only Palestinian-American in Congress, Tlaib has been strongly critical of the administration’s support for Israel.

She was censured by her peers for defending Hamas and calling for the destruction of Israel. During her tenure, she openly supported Hamas.

US VICE PRESIDENT Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this week. (credit: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/REUTERS)

Harris needs Michigan and Arab-American voters

Her position mirrors that of many Muslims and Arabs in the United States, a demographic that has a significant presence in Michigan. Michigan has a large and influential Muslim community and has been at the center of a noncommittal movement of voters who refuse to support Harris because of Israel’s war in Gaza.

These voters believe that Harris was too supportive of Israel while he was vice president. According to a Cygnal poll, about 57 percent of American Muslims said they believed Hamas “was justified in attacking Israel as part of their fight for a Palestinian state.”

The importance of the state in the upcoming elections cannot be overstated. Michigan is part of Democrats’ “blue wall” of states to win in the 2024 presidential election. A Trump victory in Michigan would hinder Harris’ chances of winning the White House. In addition, far-left anti-war candidates like Jill Stein and Cornel West will appear on the Michigan presidential ballot, potentially diverting votes from the Democratic ticket.

In response to these challenges, Harris’ campaign is trying to appeal to both sides of the Gaza conflict. In Pennsylvania, the campaign appeals to Jewish voters by emphasizing its support for Israeli autonomy.

In a Facebook ad taken from her speech at the Democratic National Convention, Harris says, “And to be clear — I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself. And I will always make sure that Israel has the ability to defend itself because the people of Israel never again have to face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on October 7, including untold sexual violence and the massacre of young people at a music festival”. After an edit, she adds: “And know this: I will never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend our forces and interests against Iran and Iranian-backed terrorists.”

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Simultaneously, the Harris campaign released a separate ad targeting Arab-Americans in Michigan, expressing solidarity with the civilians in Gaza. In the ad, Harris says: “What has happened in Gaza in the last nine months is devastating. We cannot afford to become numb to suffering and I will not be silent.” In another speech featured in the same ad, she says, “Our common humanity compels us to act.” The video ad is captioned “VP Harris Worked to End Suffering in Gaza.”

This strategy of targeting different messages to different demographics has been noted by observers. A CNN report highlighted the Harris campaign’s conflicting Facebook ads, highlighting the delicate balance the campaign is trying to maintain.

Tlaib’s refusal to endorse Harris is significant because she is one of the last major Democrats to withhold her endorsement from the top of the ticket. Instead of endorsing Harris, Tlaib made a blanket plea to get out the vote, mirroring her stance during the recent rally. In September, Tlaib told far-left journalist Mehdi Hasan that when voters came to her saying they couldn’t support Harris, she told them, “There are other people on this ballot who support the ceasefire. There are other people on this ballot who can protect us. community.”

At the rally in Detroit, protesters interrupted Harris, chanting “No war in Gaza!” This highlights the growing tension within the Democratic base over the administration’s Middle East policies. While Ocasio-Cortez and other speakers at the rally expressed support for Harris, Tlaib did not mention the vice president and only urged Michiganders to get out and vote.

As the election nears, Democrats face the challenge of unifying their diverse base in key states like Michigan. Tlaib has so far made no endorsements in the 2024 race and is one of the last major Democrats to withhold support from the top of the ticket. Her disapproval underscores the potential for divisions within the party to influence election results. With third-party candidates on the ballot and significant segments of voters feeling disaffected, the Democratic Party will need to navigate these complexities to secure victory in Michigan and, by extension, national elections.

Michigan has been at the center of a noncommittal movement of voters who refuse to support Harris because of Israel’s war in Gaza. Protesters disrupted Harris’ rally in Michigan, chanting “No war in Gaza!” Underscoring the significance of the issue, Tlaib’s position on the Gaza conflict mirrors that of many Muslims and Arabs in the United States. These voters believe that Harris was too supportive of Israel while he was vice president.

Harris’ campaign is reportedly trying to appeal to both sides of the Gaza conflict. In ads targeting Muslims in Michigan, the campaign condemns the violence in Gaza. In Pennsylvania, the campaign appeals to Jewish voters by emphasizing its support for Israeli autonomy. The balancing act reflects the complexity of tackling a deeply divisive issue within the democratic base.