US President Joe Biden won the presidential primary in Michigan on Tuesday but the win was overshadowed by protest votes for his Israel policy that surpassed expectations.
When votes were counted, over 13 per cent went to "uncommitted" as progressives listened to the call of activists of 'Listen to Michigan' campaign, who called to send the President a message of dissatisfaction over the war in Gaza.
As for the GOP primaries, Donald Trump sailed through Michigan, inching closer to the nominations as Nikki Haley, his last remaining rival, came a distant econd.
"It’s … important to create a voting bloc, something that is a bullhorn to say, ‘enough is enough," said Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, in a video shared by 'Listen to Michigan'. "We don’t want a country that supports wars and bombs and destruction. We want to support life. We want to stand up for every single life killed in Gaza," Tlaib added.
The Listen to Michigan campaign thanked the voters of Michigan, home to a large Arab American constituency, for their support, stating the "movement emerged victorious tonight and massively surpassed our expectations."
"Tens of thousands of Michigan Democrats, many of whom who voted for Biden in 2020, are uncommitted to his re-election due to the war in Gaza," the Listen to Michigan campaign said in a statement.
Congressman Andy Levin, who supports the "uncommitted" vote, told the crowd: "I take no joy in being here tonight. This moment is a child of necessity because people are dying by the thousands."
Biden, however, made no mention of the uncommitted votes, but thanked "every Michigander who made their voice heard today." "Exercising the right to vote and participating in our democracy is what makes America great," Biden said, thanking every Michigander who voted for him. He warned the voters of the danger of another Trump term as he discussed abortion, union jobs, prescription drugs, and the need to protect fertility treatments. However, there was no mention of Gaza or Israel.
"Donald Trump is threatening to drag us even further into the past as he pursues revenge and retribution," Biden said. "Now, Donald Trump wants to ban abortion nationwide – including here in Michigan."
