USA
Could the Gaza issue put Trump in the White House?
New poll suggests US Muslims in key states are turning their back on the Democrats and opting for the Greens
September 20, 2024 14:15
New poll suggests US Muslims in key states are turning their back on the Democrats and opting for the Greens
September 20, 2024 14:15Muslim and Arab-American voters are swinging away from the Democratic Party and towards Green candidate Jill Stein in numbers that could see Kamala Harris denied victory in crucial swing states, a poll has revealed.
Research conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) found that in Michigan 40 per cent of Muslim voters support Stein compared to 18 per cent for Donald Trump and just 12 per cent for Harris.
The state, which has a large Arab population, could prove decisive in November’s presidential election. In 2016, it was won narrowly by Trump, and in 2020 by Joe Biden.
Nationally, the Cair poll found Harris leading Trump 29.4 per cent to 11.2 per cent, with 29 per cent backing Stein.
Stein is also leading among Muslims in Arizona and Wisconsin.
In Georgia and Pennsylvania Harris led amongst Muslim voters, while Trump was ahead in Nevada.
Cair polled 1,155 Islamic voters across America by text message two weeks before the Presidential debate held on September 10.
While Biden won the Muslim vote by a large margin in 2020, the community's support for the Democratic Party has fallen precipitously as America continues to defend and arm Israel during the Gaza war.
In 2016, Stein secured just one per cent of the popular vote. With Arab and Muslims Americans concentrated in vital rust belt states, however, she may hold outsized influence over this year's race.
Stein, who is Jewish, has presented herself as a steadfast opponent of pro-Israel politicians in both the Republican and Democratic parties.
"Every vote cast for our campaign is a vote against genocide," she said during an interview with a radio station last week.
In a letter published on X on Thursday she wrote: “Netanyahu stands out among war criminals. We do not need to negotiate with Netanyahu, we need to send him to The Hague to face justice.
"The US, as the primary backer of Netanyahu's military campaigns, holds the power to end his assault on Gaza and bring him to account.
"This is not a matter of diplomacy but of the US electorate exercising its responsibility by voting for leaders with the political will to act.
"As voters in the most powerful nation on Earth, we bear a unique obligation to hold our government and its allies accountable.”
American president Joe Biden has steadfastly rejected claims of genocide against Israel and opposes the call of the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor for the arrest of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.