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Anti-Jamaal Bowman advertisement campaign unveiled by pro-Israel advocacy organization AIPAC

In the contest for a congressional seat in New York, Bowman alleges that his opponent is under the influence of financial support from Aipac, implying a level of corruption.

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In the contest for a New York congressional seat, candidate Bowman alleges that his competitor is...
In the contest for a New York congressional seat, candidate Bowman alleges that his competitor is financially backed by Aipac, implying they're controlled by the organization.

Anti-Jamaal Bowman advertisement campaign unveiled by pro-Israel advocacy organization AIPAC

In the electrifying political landscape of the United States, a pro-Israel super PAC, known as the United Democracy Project (UDP), affiliated with Aipac, has entered the fray, targeting Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman in a hotly contested primary race. This primary battle, unfolding in New York's 16th congressional district, is evolving into a referendum on the Biden administration's Gaza policy for Democratic voters.

UDP kicks off the fight with a scathing ad aired on Wednesday, denouncing Bowman as an "anti-Israel extremist" who peddles conspiracy theories. In this preliminary skirmish ahead of the June 25 primary, UDP is prepared for a long-haul battle, with an initial investment of $2 million into the race, out of which half will be reserved for an anti-Bowman ad and the other half supporting his opponent, Westchester County executive George Latimer.

"Bowman fiercely disagrees with President Biden on the US-Israel relationship," UDP's spokesperson, Patrick Dorton, told Jewish Insider, underscoring the PAC's focus on domestic policy, despite K Street's notorious rapport with Israel-related matters.

The Israel-Gaza conflict has ignited both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli sentiments, but it seems economic issues, such as inflation, and domestic topics, like immigration and crime, continue to top US voters' concerns. Intriguingly, UDP appears to cultivate Democratic voters' sympathy for Biden on domestic issues, exhibiting confidence in Biden's persisting support among a vast segment of the Democratic Party. Bowman's district, a Democratic stronghold, is no exception.

UDP's ads, however, are not only about Israel. They also slam Bowman for his opposition to a bipartisan infrastructure and debt bill Biden backed, dubbing Bowman as a stubborn politician who refuses to compromise, even with President Biden.

Bowman's primary rival, however, is far from ordinary. This contest is emerging as a bellwether for the resonance of the Palestinian cause within the Democratic voter base. Bowman campaigs ferociously on his pro-Palestinian credentials and has lost the endorsement of the pro-Israel lobbying group J Street following his declaration that he believed Israel's attack on Gaza was a genocide.

During a heated debate on Monday, Bowman accused his opponent of "standing with Benjamin Netanyahu in continuing the onslaught on innocent civilians in Gaza". He also accused Latimer of being in the pocket of Aipac, insinuating that Latimer's political stance on Israel-Palestine issues is shaped by financial backing from pro-Israel lobbying groups.

Bowman's political career took off in 2020 when he defeated US Congressman Eliot Engel, the hawkish Democratic chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Supported by Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bowman emerged as one of the more progressive lawmakers in the Democratic Party. However, his stance on Israel-Palestine issues has sparked a significant backlash, contributing to his loss in the eyes of pro-Israel groups. As this primary race unfolds, the stakes are high for both Bowman and Latimer, with Israel-Palestine at the epicenter of their debate.

  1. The United States' political news landscape is punctuated by the entry of the United Democracy Project (UDP), a pro-Israel super PAC, into a primary race in New York's 16th congressional district.
  2. This primary race is shaping up to be a referendum on the Biden administration's Gaza policy for Democratic voters, with UDP launching scathing ads portraying Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman as an "anti-Israel extremist."
  3. Security and Israel-Gaza conflicts are not the only issues at play in this election; economic issues, such as inflation, and domestic topics, like immigration and crime, are also significant concerns for US voters.
  4. UDP's ads target Bowman's political stances, not just on Israel, but also his opposition to a bipartisan infrastructure and debt bill Biden backed, labeling him as a stubborn politician who refuses to compromise.
  5. Sports and sports betting are noticeably absent from the election discourse, with the primary race focusing more on politics, general news, crime and justice, policy and legislation, and war and conflicts, particularly the Israel-Palestine issue.
  6. Bowman's political opponents, such as Westchester County executive George Latimer, are not immune to accusations, with Bowman accusing Latimer of being in the pocket of Aipac, implying that Latimer's political stance on Israel-Palestine issues is influenced by financial backing from pro-Israel lobbying groups.

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