Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly tailored her messaging to appeal to Jewish and Arab American voters in battleground states who can sway the election with contradictory ads that emphasize her position on Israel and Gaza.
The Harris campaign released multiple ads underscoring her commitment to Israel targeting undecided Jewish voters in Pennsylvania – while ads in Michigan aimed at the Arab American population express her solidarity with civilians in Gaza, CNN reported.
Facebook ads in the Keystone State feature a video of Harris’ Democratic National Committee speech, where she explains her support for Israel during the ongoing war in the Middle East – omitting two sections that also highlight the “human suffering” in Gaza.
“And let me be clear — I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself,” Harris says in the ad.
“And I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on Oct. 7, including unspeakable sexual violence and the massacre of young people at a music festival.”
After an edit — which excludes any mention of Gaza — Harris adds, “And know this: I will never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend our forces and our interests against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists.”
Meanwhile, ads in Michigan emphasize portions of the same speech where she touches upon the devastation and havoc in Gaza, according to CNN.
“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastation,” Harris says in the ad, captioned, “VP Harris has been working to end the suffering in Gaza.”
“Our common humanity compels us to act,” the ad quotes from a different speech.
The targeted messaging in Michigan comes after Arab Americans blamed President Biden — and the veep — for the continued carnage in the Middle East and have threatened to withhold their support for the Democratic ticket.
Harris’ campaign messaging on the war has even left many Arab voters deserting the Democrat for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
But the Trump campaign has courted the Arab-American population in 2024, even opening a campaign headquarters in Hamtramck, Mich., which is home to a large Yemeni Muslim community, in the hopes of winning over voters disenchanted with Democrats’ handling of the Israel-Hamas War.
Both Harris and Trump have campaigned heavily in battleground Pennsylvania as undecided Jewish voters could tip the election on Tuesday.
