Democratic donors say last week's Democratic presidential primary's “uncommitted” vote in Michigan, a critical battleground state, is a “wake-up call” for Joe Biden.In a document, rich progressive network Way to Win instructed contributors to “not try to argue ourselves out of the fact that Michigan is a major warning signal that something needs to change”.
“Michigan’s 100,000+ uncommitted voters in 2024 are a siren, and a clarion call,” Way to Win co-founders Tory Gavito and Jenifer Fernandez Ancona said. “The energy behind ‘uncommitted’ should not be ignored, dismissed, or Michigan-specific. Michigan 2024 is normal like 2016.Biden received 81% of the Feb. 27 Democratic primary vote, but 13% voted “uncommitted,” primarily because of his support for Israel in Gaza.
In six other states, hundreds more Democrats voted “uncommitted” or “no preference” on Super Tuesday. In Minnesota, activists' last-minute Michigan model campaign exceeded expectations and won 19% of the vote for “Uncommitted”. The “Listen to Minnesota” campaign found that young people preferred undecided.
“Tonight, Minnesota proved to the country that the ‘Uncommitted’ movement is not going away nor slowing down,” Listen to Michigan campaign manager Layla Elabed said.Polls show Trump leading Biden nationwide and in numerous battleground states as young, Muslim, and progressive Democrats disapprove of Biden due to the Gaza war.
In a close race like 2016 Michigan, where Trump won by less than 11,000 votes, even a small percentage of voters staying home or voting third party could matter.Way to Win, which has raised over $300 million in political donations since its founding after Trump's election, urged Biden to change course on Gaza, elevate Vice President Kamala Harris, and limit third-party candidates, including Michigan Democrats.
“Biden is the nominee and we are 100% behind the Biden-Harris ticket and are doing everything in our power to help inspire and mobilize the multiracial and multigenerational coalition we need to win.” “We wrote this memo to unite our winning coalition, and that must begin now.”Hillary Clinton didn't expect Bernie Sanders to win Michigan's primary despite polls showing her ahead, but her staff believed Michigan and other Great Lakes states would be secure in the general election.
The campaign's first field office opened in Michigan on Monday, and the president will tour battleground states after Thursday's State of the Union.We have November energy. But we still have work,” Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., said at a Lansing office opening. No doubt, some voters abstained. We desire their reintegration. Joe Biden was made to listen, interact, and lead with heart, compassion, and grace.”
Harris called for a Gaza cease-fire over the weekend, going further than Biden did, to pressure government leaders to address the humanitarian issue.The President thinks speaking up and engaging in democracy characterize Americans. He seeks just, durable Middle East peace and an end to violence.
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