In a bid to shore up support among minority groups in Michigan, President Joe Biden's campaign manager, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, traveled to the state on Friday, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The visit aimed to address concerns within Michigan's Arab and Palestinian-American, Hispanic, and Black communities, which have been seething over the administration's Middle East policy.

Chávez Rodríguez was scheduled to meet with local elected officials and leaders in the Detroit area, including Dearborn, which boasts a significant Arab American population. However, the trip occurred against the backdrop of mounting anger over Biden's approach to Israel's war against Hamas, leading to a divide between the White House and many Arab-American voters crucial for securing the battleground state in the upcoming November elections.

Several Arab-American and Muslim leaders, including Michigan state Rep. Alabas Farhat, declined invitations to meet with Chávez Rodríguez. Farhat stated that his community is currently in pain and now is not the time for political discussions but for a ceasefire.

The Biden campaign chose not to comment on the situation. Despite the opposition, Chávez Rodríguez carried on with her planned meetings on Friday with other local leaders to address various issues facing Michigan's minority communities, not solely limited to the Middle East policy controversy.

Michigan's Democratic primary is scheduled for February 27, and recent polls have shown Biden losing ground to former President Donald Trump in the state, which is considered crucial for the president's reelection. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud expressed dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's handling of the war and stated that his concerns were met with indifference.

Farhat, the state lawmaker, also voiced concerns that the Biden campaign has not fully grasped the gravity of the situation, urging them to take the matter seriously. He emphasized the importance of engaging in conversations with the Democratic Party to secure Arab votes, but emphasized the need to focus on a ceasefire and the lives lost.

While Biden's campaign manager continues with her engagements, the controversy surrounding the administration's Middle East policy and its impact on voter sentiment in Michigan remains a challenge for the president's reelection efforts.