A super PAC with Republican ties is promoting Kamala Harris’ husband’s Jewish faith in Michigan and running digital ads touting Harris’ support for Israel — a cynical play to undercut Harris in the battleground state’s large Arab-American population amid the current political fallout. War in Gaza.
The super PAC, Future Coalition PAC, has spent nearly $60,000 running multiple YouTube ads targeting Michigan alone. Google’s Advertising Transparency Center. Each ad emphasizes Harris’ support for Israel, and many point to her husband, Doug Mhope, who is Jewish. The New York Times first reported the ads.
One of the group’s advertisements promotes the character of Harris’s husband Emhoff, featuring images of Emhoff wearing a Yamaha and a second gentleman visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp.
“Kamala Harris is a strong leader in these difficult times. Also with Kamala will be her husband and top advisor, Doug Emhoff. Doug Emhoff, the first spouse of a Jewish president. Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff: Making History, Standing Right, Supporting Israel.
Another ad opens, “Vice President Harris has chosen a side, the right. Harris made herself clear: She stands with Israel and the Jewish people. She, again and again. He understands the unbreakable bond between America and Israel.
The ads — positively framed and accompanied by rousing music — appear supportive of Harris’ presidential bid — but the group behind them and their precise targeting of battleground Michigan suggest a more cynical motive.
Formed Earlier this monthFuture Alliance PAC has not yet filed its donors or fund-raising report with the Election Commission. However, other filings from the group include GOP connections; The board includes its assistant treasurer Gabel Hobbs, who served as treasurer of a super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2024 presidential bid.
Additionally, the ads ran exclusively in Michigan, which is one of seven key battleground states poised to decide the 2024 election and has a large Arab American population. The ads appear aimed at stoking divisions over the ongoing war in Gaza and undermining Harris’ efforts to undermine the Democratic coalition that includes voters there.
