McMorrow submitted secret AIPAC policy paper attempting to keep pro-Israel lobby neutral in primary
"To that end, one of her top supporters on a donor call said that McMorro had submitted an excellent Apac paper, policy position paper. I suspect he misspoke and he meant DMFI, which is Democratic Majority for Israel, which is kind of an Apac offshoot. Either way, so McMoral produced this secret Israel policy paper in an attempt to keep Apac out. Um that kept coming up dur throughout the race uh with people saying this also appears cynical like what are you not what's in that paper released the paper what are you not telling us about your actual position."
About this episode
Breaking Points hosts Ryan Grim and an unnamed co-host analyze the stunning collapse of Mallerie McMorrow's Michigan Democratic Senate campaign, which she suspended despite initially being considered the consultant class's favored candidate. McMorrow, who went viral during the pandemic for opposing book bans, was backed by Elizabeth Warren and positioned as a focus-group-tested progressive who could appeal to Michigan voters. However, her campaign imploded after she made a strategic decision in March to attack progressive challenger Abdul Elsayed for planning to campaign with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, comparing Piker to white nationalist Nick Fuentes. The attack, coordinated with corporate centrist group Third Way and amplified by mainstream outlets including CNN and the New York Times, backfired catastrophically. Rather than damaging Elsayed, it clarified to Democratic primary voters that he was the authentic progressive in the race, while McMorrow appeared cynical and calculating. Her polling collapsed from competitive numbers in the 20s to just 7.7 percent, while Elsayed surged to 35 percent with a 5.3-point lead over establishment candidate Haley Stevens. The hosts reveal that McMorrow had also produced a secret Israel policy paper for AIPAC or Democratic Majority for Israel attempting to keep pro-Israel lobbying groups neutral, which leaked and further damaged her credibility. With McMorrow's 7.7 percent of support now in play, the race becomes determinative based on where her voters go. Stevens has reserved $34.4 million in ad spending compared to Elsayed's $2.8 million heading into the August 4th primary. The episode highlights how misreading the Democratic base on Israel, authenticity, and new media cost the consultant class their preferred candidate.
Key takeaways
- Mallerie McMorrow suspended her Michigan Senate campaign after polling collapsed to 7.7 percent following her disastrous March attack comparing progressive Twitch streamer Hasan Piker to white nationalist Nick Fuentes
- The coordinated attack with corporate group Third Way backfired and clarified Abdul Elsayed as the authentic progressive candidate, boosting him to 35 percent and a 5.3-point lead
- McMorrow secretly submitted an Israel policy paper to AIPAC or DMFI attempting to keep pro-Israel lobbies neutral rather than support establishment rival Haley Stevens
- The leaked existence of the secret paper fueled voter perceptions that McMorrow was cynical and inauthentic, compounding damage from the Hasan Piker controversy
- McMorrow's exit leaves her 7.7 percent of support as the decisive factor between Elsayed and Stevens heading into the August 4th Democratic primary
- Haley Stevens has reserved $34.4 million in advertising compared to Elsayed's $2.8 million, setting up a David versus Goliath contest for the remaining weeks
- Chicago progressive Daniel Biss advised future candidates never to meet with AIPAC after his own experience showed even neutral contact carries political toxicity with Democratic base voters