Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are moving their duel on Friday to Michigan, one of the most contested states in a breathtaking race for the White House, marked by lively debates around American support for Israel.
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A very large number of Arab-Americans reside in this northern state, which borders Canada.
These voters traditionally tend to support the Democratic candidate in the presidential election, but this year are very critical of the Biden administration, of which the Democratic candidate is a part, with regard to the war in Gaza and Lebanon.
In Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, the war in the Middle East is in fact in every conversation.
Photo Getty Images / AFP
Marwan Faraj, a 51-year-old American of Lebanese origin, explains to AFP that he has always voted Democratic but that he will turn his back on Kamala Harris who supports “this ethnic cleansing and this genocide since day one, with our tax money.
Biden “wasted everything, and Kamala promises to play the same role,” believes this American who arrived from southern Lebanon at the age of 16 and who runs a medical center.
“We do not want to vote for Trump, because he looks down on us, nor for the Democrats, who respected us and who now give weapons to Israel,” adds Haider Koussan, also of Lebanese origin and co-owner with his brothers of a small supermarket chain.
Peace “easier” according to Trump
If she has not openly broken with the line of Joe Biden, who gave Israel almost unconditional support, Kamala Harris is well aware that this position could cost her votes in an ultra-close election where every ballot, or almost , account.
The vice-president, who replaced Joe Biden at short notice in the race for the White House less than three months ago, is therefore playing a very delicate role in this state, where she is participating in three campaign meetings on Friday.
Photo AFP
The 59-year-old candidate estimated that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinouar, announced Thursday by Israel, offered “the opportunity” to “end” the war in Gaza.
His Republican rival in the November 5 election estimated that it made peace in the Middle East “easier”.
“I’m happy that Bibi decided to do what he had to do,” he said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, upon his arrival in Detroit.
The Republican’s visit to Michigan is an opportunity to detail, according to his campaign team, how “families were crushed by inflation, under Kamala’s failed leadership.”
10 million Americans voted
Donald Trump also confirmed that he planned to work at a McDonald’s over the weekend, an unusual stop aimed at making fun of the comments of the Democratic candidate who explained that she had worked there when she was a student.
Photo Getty Images / AFP
The economy, immigration and abortion are among the most debated topics in a particularly tense and close election.
18 days before the election, the two candidates are neck and neck in each of the most contested states, the famous “swing states”.
And this, despite a series of unprecedented twists and turns in the campaign: the criminal conviction of Donald Trump, two assassination attempts targeting him and the withdrawal of Joe Biden’s candidacy.
More than 10 million Americans have already voted, including more than 3 million in those states expected to decide the election, according to data compiled by the University of Florida.
Georgia and North Carolina set records, including in areas recently hit by devastating hurricane Helene.
