A new survey conducted by Joe Biden’s former pollsters reveals a sharp decline in the president’s support among Muslim and Arab Democrats in Michigan, a key demographic group that overwhelmingly backed Biden in the swing state during the 2020 election. The survey, commissioned by Detroit Action, a progressive advocacy group, was conducted by Lake Research Partners, a respected Democratic pollster that extensively worked on Biden’s 2020 campaign. The survey reached 513 registered, likely Democratic voters in the state, including oversamples of Arab and Muslim Democrats and voters under 30. The results indicate that only 16% of Arab and Muslim Democrats surveyed said they would vote for Biden if the election were held today.
This poll highlights the concerns Arab and Muslim community leaders in Michigan have been expressing for weeks. They warn that Biden’s handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict could cost him the state, which he won by a narrow margin in 2020 and where an estimated 240,000 Muslims reside. The survey reveals that about two-thirds of Arab and Muslim Democrats now plan to vote for a replacement candidate, and three-quarters are open to voting for a third-party candidate. The majority of these voters have given Biden a “poor” rating for his handling of the conflict.
In the 2020 election, Biden secured significant support from Arab and Muslim voters in Michigan, winning 83% of the vote in precincts with high concentrations of Muslim and Arab Americans. However, the survey suggests that Biden’s support is also waning among voters under 30, with just 61% indicating they would vote for him today. These numbers reflect a historic and concerning trend among Arab, Muslim, and young voters within his own party.
The survey suggests that Biden could rebuild support among Muslim and Arab voters and young Democrats by taking stronger action to rein in Israel’s actions and providing more support to Palestinian civilians. A majority of all Michigan Democrats surveyed supported a cease-fire, and both Arab and Muslim Americans and voters under 30 said they would be more likely to support Biden if he backed a cease-fire. However, the poll also indicates that support for the U.S. to send $14 billion in additional military aid to Israel is divided among Michigan Democrats, with Muslim and Arab voters and young voters generally opposed to it.
While these poll results indicate a decline in support for Biden among specific demographic groups in Michigan, it is important to note that the 2024 election is still a year away. Factors such as recent actions by former President Donald Trump and some Republicans in Congress may influence voters’ perception of Biden. The survey serves as a reminder that Biden will need to address the concerns and priorities of these key demographic groups in order to maintain and regain their support leading up to the election.
Source: NBCNews.com
