Additional Coverage:
Vice President Kamala Harris’s decision to campaign with former Republican Representative Liz Cheney has sparked controversy in Michigan. Arab Americans, a critical voting bloc in the swing state, are expressing disappointment and anger over Cheney’s involvement.
Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, who has endorsed Trump, said that Cheney’s family name reminds Arab Americans of war crimes in the Middle East, particularly the 2003 Iraq War. Liz Cheney’s father, Dick Cheney, was vice president under George W. Bush and strongly supported the war.
Harris’s campaign hopes that Cheney’s conservative credentials will attract moderate Republican voters. However, Arab American leaders argue that Cheney’s presence alienates the community, which has been critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in Gaza.
Both Ghalib and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi have thrown their support behind Trump. They believe that Harris’s decision to bring Cheney to Michigan will only further damage her relationship with the Muslim community.
Recent polls show Trump gaining ground in Michigan, with the race now considered a toss-up. Harris’s decision to campaign with Cheney could potentially backfire and hurt her chances of winning the state.