Super PAC hits Harris with contradictory ads on Israel

A Republican-led super PAC is running contradictory ads in Michigan and Pennsylvania about Vice President Harris’s stance on Israel in an apparent effort to target Arab and Jewish voters in the key battleground states. 

In Michigan, Future Coalition PAC has run several ads emphasizing Harris’s support for Israel and suggesting that pro-Palestine protesters “hate her.” 

“Vice President Harris has chosen a side, the right side,” one ad said. “Harris has made herself clear. She stands with Israel and the Jewish people. She has again and again. She understands the unbreakable bond between the U.S. and Israel.”  

“When supporters of a free Palestine stood up for Gaza, Harris put them in their place,” it added. “And supporters of free Palestine, they hate her. Because Kamala Harris gets it. We can trust she will always support Israel.” 

Michigan has a significant Arab American population that has repeatedly expressed frustration with the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to Israel and Gaza. 

The Great Lakes State has been at the center of the uncommitted movement, which urged Americans to vote “uncommitted” in the Democratic primary to express their dissatisfaction with the administration’s policy. 

In Pennsylvania, on the other hand, Future Coalition PAC ran ads suggesting that Harris failed to sufficiently support Israel and stand up to antisemitism. The Keystone State has a significant Jewish population, which one ad sought to speak to specifically. 

“In Jewish communities throughout America, questions are being asked,” it said. “Why did Kamala Harris support denying Israel the weapons needed to defeat the Hamas terrorists who massacred thousands?”  

“And why did Harris show sympathy for college protesters who are rabidly antisemitic?” the ad continued. “And why is she running ads pandering to Palestine? We must stand up to antisemitism. No matter the political party, Jewish voters must say no more. Kamala Harris, we say no more.” 

The super PAC lists Ray Zaborney, a Republican strategist, as its treasurer and Cabell Hobbs, former treasurer of Never Back Down — a super PAC that supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign — as its assistant treasurer. 

The entirety of Future Coalition’s funding came from a single $3 million donation from a group called Building America’s Future on Aug. 16, campaign finance records show.  

Building America’s Future is what’s known as a “dark money” group and does not have to disclose the source of its money. However, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that tech billionaire Elon Musk had given funds to the group. 

The Hill reached out to RightSide Compliance, which was listed on the PAC’s Federal Election Commission registration form, for comment.

Michigan and Pennsylvania are both expected to be key in the increasingly tight race between Harris and former President Trump. A recent poll showed Harris leading Trump by 1 point in Pennsylvania, while another poll showed Trump leading Harris by 1 point in Michigan.