An analysis of the 2024 presidential campaign commissioned by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) does not mention the party's stance on Israel's actions in Gaza. The 192-page report, authored by Democratic strategist Paul Rivera and published by CNN, discusses various factors contributing to Vice President Kamala Harris's loss to Donald Trump but fails to address the contentious issue of Gaza. Key terms such as 'Israel,' 'Palestine,' 'Arab American,' and 'Muslim' are notably absent from the document.
A DNC spokesperson did not comment on the omission but referred to a Substack post by DNC Chair Ken Martin, who acknowledged shortcomings in the report. Martin stated that he was reluctant to release the report due to its flaws, describing it as 'not ready for primetime' and expressing that he could not endorse its content.
A policymaker involved in the report's qualitative research expressed surprise at the lack of mention of Gaza, noting that discussions about its impact had occurred with Rivera. Martin's failure to address Gaza in his communications has led to speculation about accountability, with some suggesting that Rivera is being unfairly blamed for the omissions.
James Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, praised Martin's leadership but criticized the decision to release the report. Activist Linda Sarsour warned that failure to address the concerns of Arab and Muslim voters could lead to further electoral challenges for the party in future elections.
The DNC has distanced itself from the report, releasing an annotated version that highlights missing data and unverified claims. The document includes a disclaimer stating that it reflects the author's views and not those of the DNC, which could not verify many of the assertions made in the report.