Obama to appear at Abdul El-Sayed rally in critical Michigan Senate race
Former president to visit 10 days before election day as victory for progressive challenger could tip Senate balance
TL;DR
- Barack Obama is set to appear at a rally with Abdul El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson in Detroit on October 24th.
- The rally occurs on the first day of in-person early voting in Michigan, 10 days before election day.
- El-Sayed, a progressive candidate, previously beat moderate Haley Stevens with backing from figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- El-Sayed's campaign themes include Medicare for All and opposition to corporate PAC money, with a strong stance against US military aid to Israel.
- Aipac and allies reportedly spent $30 million attempting to defeat El-Sayed, with Stevens and her allies outspending him significantly on advertising.
- Obama's endorsement is particularly significant in Detroit, a city where he remains popular and which is over three-quarters Black.
- El-Sayed is running against Republican Mike Rogers for the seat vacated by retiring Democrat Gary Peters.
- A late September poll showed El-Sayed leading Rogers 51% to 44%.