Obama to campaign in Michigan with El-Sayed, Benson
by Mary McCue Bell · The Washington TimesFormer President Barack Obama is joining Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson on the campaign trail.
Mr. Obama will be stumping with the two Democrats on Oct. 24, the first day of statewide early voting in Michigan, the state Democratic Party announced on social media Monday.
“It is my honor and privilege to announce that President @BarackObama is joining us on the trail in Detroit on Saturday, October 24,” Mr. El-Sayed wrote on social media. “Get. Ready.”
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Mr. Obama did not endorse Mr. El-Sayed in the primary, but phoned him afterward to discuss unifying the party. The candidate has become a symbol of the party’s leftward shift toward socialism, raising questions about whether he and other such candidates can win in a general election.
Ms. Benson echoed Mr. El-Sayed’s sentiment, saying on social media, “There’s only one team ready to work for the people.”
“See you soon, President @BarackObama!” she said.
Ms. Benson, Michigan’s secretary of state, is running for governor against Republican Rep. John James, while Mr. El-Sayed is facing former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers.
Mr. El-Sayed has enjoyed a share of high-profile endorsements and campaign appearances, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont independent, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat.
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Winnie Brinks, Michigan Senate majority leader and Ms. Benson’s lieutenant gubernatorial running mate, has appeared alongside the gubernatorial hopeful, while outgoing Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she is supporting the statewide Democratic ticket.
Mr. Obama has appeared with and endorsed numerous high-profile Democratic candidates, running mates and party figures across his career and post-presidency.
In this election cycle, he has backed Texas’ Senate nominee James Talarico and gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa, and also supported Iowa Senate nominee Josh Turek in a political ad.
In 2020, Democrats leaned on Mr. Obama to energize Black voters in Detroit and Flint, Michigan.
Mr. El-Sayed’s race is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report in a Senate where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.
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Mary McCue Bell
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