Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is set to rally with former President Barack Obama on Saturday as Republicans raise questions about his support among Black voters, a crucial Democratic constituency in the battleground state.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." His upcoming rally with El-Sayed has become a major political event as the progressive Senate candidate continues his effort to build bridges with the Democratic Party’s establishment.Obama's support has also 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, whose turnout could be decisive on Election Day.ROGERS ARGUES EL-SAYED IS VULNERABLE WITH 2 TRADITIONALLY DEMOCRATIC BLOCS AS OBAMA HEADS TO MICHIGANDemocratic nominee for U.S.Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a unity rally at Renaissance High School on August 7 in Detroit.
(Dieu-Nalio Chery/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)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.El-Sayed's uneven support among key Democratic constituencies has raised questions about his ability to unite the party's coalition heading into November.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...