The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is considering spending tens of millions of dollars to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan after its record-breaking attempt to defeat pro-Palestine candidate Dr Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic primary ended in failure.
AIPAC’s second attempt to defeat El-Sayed is seen as a growing desperation within the pro-Israel lobby as opposition to Israel becomes increasingly mainstream among American voters.
AIPAC’s main super political action committee, the United Democracy Project (UDP), spent approximately $32 million promoting pro-Israel congresswoman Haley Stevens and attacking El-Sayed. Despite the unprecedented expenditure, El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination and will face Rogers in November.
According to the New York Times, several AIPAC donors and allies are urging the lobby to put tens of millions of dollars behind Rogers. A spokesperson for UDP insisted that no final decision had been taken. However, the group reportedly had more than $80 million available at the end of June, giving it the resources to launch another major campaign.
AIPAC nevertheless made clear that its campaign against El-Sayed would continue.
