Can Biden win back Arab Americans?

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The Biden campaign needs to figure out a way forward, so I asked my Post Opinions colleagues Shadi Hamid and E.J. Dionne: Is there any way Biden can convince these frustrated voters to stick with him?

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Alexi McCammond: Hi, friends! I’m struck by the spate of negative headlines in the last few weeks alone regarding President Biden’s troubles with Arab American voters (and others!) over his support for Israel. Obviously, we have, like, nine months until November, but I’m curious whether you think he can do anything to reverse course with these frustrated folks.

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Shadi Hamid: I’m struck by it, too. And honestly a bit mystified at how bad the Biden team has handled everything related to Arab and Muslim American voters. There was a Politico piece last week about how the Biden campaign was basically writing Arabs off in Michigan and focusing on finding alternative paths to victory.

E.J. Dionne: Good to be chatting with you both, and I trust we can model mutual understanding and respect that is so often absent from conversations on this topic. In the short term, the politics of the situation are very tough for Biden. He faces twin challenges: from Arab and Muslim voters, particularly in Michigan, and from younger Democrats, whose views on issues related to Israel and Palestinians are very different from his.

Alexi: And they refused to meet with the campaign manager when she showed up in Michigan. 😬

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E.J.: I agree with those who have argued that Biden needs to use his standing with Israelis to make the case to them for negotiations with Palestinians and a way forward. Biden’s task is to bring the fighting to an end (he is trying to do that in the negotiations around the release of hostages) and begin a peace process that culminates in negotiations for a two-state solution.

Shadi: Yes, he can do quite a bit to reverse course. In my own writing on this topic, I haven’t asked for a whole lot. I try to be realistic. Biden isn’t going to get “woke” and become pro-Palestine anytime soon. But he can at least be a bit more balanced and put more pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But, perhaps most important, rhetoric matters. And Biden has just been incredibly insensitive when talking about Palestinian suffering, almost as if he doesn’t see them as human beings equally deserving of dignity and protection in a war zone.

Alexi: Yeah, Shadi, the rhetoric has been uncharacteristically cold. Especially when he bills himself as the consoler in chief!

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Shadi: Yes, console us, dear president!😀

E.J.: On that Politico piece, Shadi: I don’t think Biden is writing off Arab voters in Michigan, for reasons I offered above. But given the hostility to Biden in the Arab community now, it would be political malpractice not to plan for alternative coalitions.

Shadi: Fair point. But I have trouble imagining this level of disrespect toward other members of the Democratic coalition, whether they are Hispanic, Black, young women, etc. A big part of the Arab disaffection toward Biden is about this sense of disrespect, that he can’t even be bothered to take our concerns seriously.

Alexi: Biden is in a tricky position because polls also show that something like 40 percent of Americans think Israel should continue on with its war.

Shadi: Are there really that many pro-Israel Democrats who are going to shift their support for former president Donald Trump if Biden puts more pressure on Netanyahu to be less destructive in this war when it comes to civilians? It just seems to me that this single-issue voter is largely hypothetical.

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Alexi: 🍿🍿🍿

E.J.: Early on, Biden was focused (for what I think are understandable reasons) on the horror of Oct. 7. But I agree that it is essential for him (and everybody) to show real concern over civilian deaths in Gaza and genuine empathy for those who are suffering.

Shadi: But as E.J. correctly notes, this isn’t just about Arabs or Muslims. Arabs are a sort of proxy for a deeper disaffection among young voters. The recent NBC poll was really striking in this regard. Only 15 percent of young voters approve of Biden’s handling of the Gaza war.

E.J.: Shadi, I think Biden not only has room to move toward what you called a more balanced policy. It’s........

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