Obama prepares to rally with Michigan Dem who once delivered scathing verdict on his presidency
Former President Barack Obama will rally with Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Saturday as questions persist about El-Sayed's past criticism of Obama and his support among Black voters.
The upcoming rally has become a major political event as El-Sayed continues his effort to build bridges with the Democratic Party's establishment. Obama formally endorsed the Michigan Democrat earlier this month, filming a campaign ad that ran on Oct. 12 imploring his supporters 'to support Abdul El-Sayed for the United States Senate.'
Obama's support has renewed scrutiny of El-Sayed's past criticism of the former president, including a sharply worded 2012 essay accusing him of failing to deliver on the promises of his presidency. Conservatives have suggested that the El-Sayed campaign is leaning on Obama to build support among the African American community.
Black voter support in question
Claims that El-Sayed is only receiving lukewarm support from the Black community began during his primary race against Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens. El-Sayed performed strongly among Arab American voters during the Democratic primary, but he narrowly defeated Stevens after polls showed her attracting stronger support among Black Democratic voters.
Black voters are crucial to the Democratic coalition in Michigan. Low turnout or defections to the GOP in Michigan among African Americans could seriously endanger the Democratic Party's path to control of the Senate.
Honestly, it's a turn-off just because I've seen too many candidates use him just to manipulate the Democratic vote.
Mixed reactions to Obama endorsement
A Fox News Digital poll in late September found that just 77% of Black voters were supportive of El-Sayed, a figure well below where Democrats typically perform with the demographic. The outlet spoke with more than a dozen Black voters in Detroit about Obama's endorsement, finding mixed reactions.
Undecided voters largely agreed that Obama was still a leader within the Democratic Party, but they generally did not put much weight on the former president's endorsement of El-Sayed. Some expressed skepticism about El-Sayed's changing position on Obama.
I don't want to be pushed to vote for him because somebody else is backing him.
Past criticism resurfaces
The controversy surrounding El-Sayed's purported flip-flop on Obama can be traced back to a 2012 Huffington Post essay where he accused Obama of failing to live up to the progressive rhetoric he campaigned on.
El-Sayed has since walked back some of those criticisms, noting that it is possible to disagree with someone while still admiring them. However, conservative commentator Jason Rantz suggested El-Sayed was setting aside his criticisms because he was in a desperate electoral position and needed to 'try to bring in black voters.'
El-Sayed's rally with Obama is slated to begin at 5:00 p.m. and will feature Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson and other Michigan Democrats. Attendees will be encouraged to cast early ballots in support of the Democratic ticket.
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