In the Wisconsin Democratic primary on Tuesday, a notable opposition movement is challenging President Joe Biden’s staunch support for Israel’s military actions against Hamas. This resistance is manifested through grassroots efforts, mobilizing 60 groups over two weeks, employing tactics such as phone banking and door-to-door canvassing to persuade voters to choose “uninstructed” on their ballots, symbolizing a lack of commitment to any candidate. This strategy aims to gather 20,682 uncommitted votes, mirroring Biden’s narrow victory margin in Wisconsin during the 2020 elections.
Quick Read
- Opposition to President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s actions against Hamas is being tested in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary.
- Grassroots groups are campaigning for voters to select “uninstructed” as a protest, aiming for 20,682 votes, the margin by which Biden won Wisconsin in 2020.
- The movement has gained traction in other states and aims to influence the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
- The campaign, operating on tight budgets, has made significant outreach efforts, including phone banking and door-to-door canvassing.
- This opposition reflects broader concerns about U.S. foreign policy and military aid to Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
Wisconsin primary Tues. puts Biden’s Israel policy to the ‘uncommitted’ test
Newslooks- WASHINGTON- (AP)
In the Wisconsin Democratic primary on Tuesday, a notable opposition movement is challenging President Joe Biden’s staunch support for Israel’s military actions against Hamas. This resistance is manifested through grassroots efforts, mobilizing 60 groups over two weeks, employing tactics such as phone banking and door-to-door canvassing to persuade voters to choose “uninstructed” on their ballots, symbolizing a lack of commitment to any candidate. This strategy aims to gather 20,682 uncommitted votes, mirroring Biden’s narrow victory margin in Wisconsin during the 2020 elections.
The implications of this movement extend beyond Wisconsin, as similar campaigns have emerged in other states like Hawaii, Michigan, and Minnesota. These efforts could potentially influence the tight race between Biden and Trump in the upcoming November elections, considering Biden’s 2020 win was secured through slim margins in key battleground states.
The campaign’s focal points are the precincts in Madison and Milwaukee, areas anticipated to show significant activity. The movement has sparked debate among Democrats, some of whom are taken aback by the growing dissent against Biden’s foreign policy, particularly regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. This discord comes at a critical time when the U.S. abstained from a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, exacerbating tensions with Israel.
The organizers are not just aiming for a temporary ceasefire but are advocating for a permanent halt to the violence and a cessation of U.S. military aid to Israel. They plan to bring their demands to the forefront during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Biden is expected to receive the nomination.
Despite these efforts, the movement faces skepticism from some quarters, particularly regarding its potential impact in swing states where domestic issues like inflation may overshadow foreign policy concerns. Political analysts argue that for the uncommitted movement to significantly influence the primaries, it would need a substantial share of the vote, a threshold it has not yet reached.
Operating on minimal budgets and with limited time, the campaigners in Wisconsin and other states have demonstrated remarkable efficiency, making hundreds of thousands of calls in the days leading up to the primaries. This grassroots initiative, fueled by a deep-rooted anti-war sentiment, represents a rapid mobilization unseen in typical political campaigns, highlighting a critical moment of dissent within the Democratic base.
