An ad campaign in the state, funded by a group that appears tied to Republicans, seems designed to remind Muslim voters of Kamala Harris’s pro-Israel views and her husband’s Jewish faith.

“Doug Emhoff,” a narrator says, “would be the first Jewish presidential spouse ever.”

The strategy behind the spot seems to be far more cynical.

A super PAC that appears to have Republican ties is targeting Michigan residents — including those in Detroit-area ZIP codes that are home to many Muslim Americans and Arab Americans — with YouTube advertisements that highlight Vice President Kamala Harris’s support for Israel and, in some cases, the Jewish faith of her husband, Mr. Emhoff.

As the narrator cheerfully notes Mr. Emhoff’s religion, an image of the Israeli flag appears onscreen, a dog whistle conjuring the antisemitic trope of dual loyalty.

MBFC
Archive