Biden faces backlash from his own base over Israel policy
President Joe Biden won the Michigan primary on Tuesday, defeating his only remaining rival, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips. However, Biden also faced a significant challenge from the “uncommitted” vote, which represented a protest from some of his supporters over his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to the latest results, Biden received 52% of the vote, Phillips got 28%, and “uncommitted” got 20%. The “uncommitted” vote exceeded the 10,000-vote margin by which former President Donald Trump won Michigan in 2016, indicating a level of dissatisfaction among Democrats in a key battleground state.
Michigan has been the epicenter of a grassroots campaign to pressure Biden to take a more balanced approach to the Middle East crisis, which has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands more. Many of Biden’s voters, especially in the Arab-American community, have been disappointed by his staunch support for Israel and his reluctance to condemn its airstrikes on Gaza.
Biden has defended his policy, saying that he is committed to a two-state solution and that he has urged both sides to de-escalate the violence. He has also announced a $110 million humanitarian aid package for the Palestinians, and appointed a special envoy to the region.
However, some of his critics say that his actions are too little, too late, and that he has failed to uphold the human rights and dignity of the Palestinian people. They have also accused him of ignoring the voices of progressive lawmakers and activists who have called for more accountability and sanctions on Israel.
Trump sweeps Republican primaries, faces legal troubles
Former President Donald Trump continued his dominance of the Republican primaries, winning Michigan by a wide margin over his last major challenger, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Trump has now won the first five states on the calendar, and is on track to secure the nomination by mid-March.
Trump received 78% of the vote in Michigan, while Haley got 12%. The rest of the vote was split among several minor candidates and write-ins. Trump’s victory came after he defeated Haley by 20 percentage points in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday.
Trump has maintained a loyal base of supporters, who have rallied behind his false claims of election fraud and his grievances against the Biden administration. He has also endorsed several candidates who share his views and agenda, and has vowed to campaign against those who have opposed or criticized him.
However, Trump also faces a number of legal challenges, which could jeopardize his political future. He is currently under investigation for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, his business dealings in New York, and his attempts to interfere with the Georgia election results. He is also facing several lawsuits from women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and has dismissed the investigations and lawsuits as politically motivated witch hunts. He has also claimed that he enjoys immunity from prosecution as a former president, and that he has the right to pardon himself.
Michigan primary results reflect national trends and challenges
The Michigan primary results reflect some of the national trends and challenges that both Biden and Trump face as they head toward a likely rematch in the 2024 presidential election.
For Biden, the Michigan primary showed that he still has a strong base of support among Democrats, especially among African-Americans, women, and older voters. He also performed well among moderates, independents, and suburban voters, who helped him win the state and the presidency in 2020.
However, the Michigan primary also exposed some of the cracks in his coalition, especially among younger, more progressive, and more diverse voters, who have been disillusioned by his foreign policy, his environmental policy, and his compromise with Republicans on infrastructure. Biden will need to address these concerns and energize these voters, if he wants to retain Michigan and other swing states in 2024.
For Trump, the Michigan primary showed that he still has a firm grip on the Republican Party, and that he can easily fend off any potential challengers. He also demonstrated his appeal among rural, white, and working-class voters, who have remained loyal to him despite his defeat and his controversies.
However, the Michigan primary also highlighted some of the obstacles that Trump faces in expanding his base and winning back the states that he lost in 2020. He has alienated many suburban, college-educated, and minority voters, who have been turned off by his divisive rhetoric, his mishandling of the pandemic, and his role in the Capitol riot. Trump will need to moderate his tone and broaden his message, if he wants to regain Michigan and other key states in 2024.
