Following an 81% victory in Michigan, President Joe Biden attacked former President Donald Trump in a victory speech to supporters, addressing the huge “uncommitted” vote.
In the Michigan Democratic primary on Tuesday night, Biden defeated longshot opponent Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) by 79 points and his closest human rival, Marianne Williamson, by 78 points.
However, the “uncommitted” vote—which sparked yells on CNN and a response from the Biden campaign—was the night’s biggest revelation. The target of 10,000 votes was exceeded by a factor of ten by a “uncommitted” protest campaign against Israel’s handling of the Gaza War against Hamas. It very nearly matched the proportion of “uncommitted” votes when the state was won by then-President Barack Obama in 2012.
Biden thanked Michigan voters and slammed Trump in a statement following the victory, writing in part:
“For all of this progress, there is so much left to do. Donald Trump is threatening to drag us even further into the past as he pursues revenge and retribution. He proudly brags that he is the reason Roe v. Wade was overturned in this country. Because of Donald Trump, women’s lives are at risk, doctors face the prospect of criminal penalties for doing their jobs, and families desperately trying to have children are having access to fertility treatments ripped away. Now, Donald Trump wants to ban abortion nationwide – including here in Michigan.
“You’ve heard me say many times it’s never a good bet to bet against the United States of America. It’s never a good bet to bet against Michiganders either. This fight for our freedoms, for working families, and for Democracy is going to take all of us coming together. I know that we will.”
A Biden campaign official conveyed the president’s wish for peace in Gaza in a statement.
“President Biden shares the goal of many of the folks who voted uncommitted, which is an end to the violence and a just and lasting peace. That is what he is working towards,” the official said.
On Monday, the president told reporters there could be a cease-fire announcement as soon as this weekend.
“My National Security Advisor tells me that we’re close. We’re close. It’s not done yet. And my hope is by next Monday, we’ll have a ceasefire,” Biden said.
