Obama rallies rapturous Michigan crowd for El-Sayed: ‘He’ll finish the job we started’
Former president speaks to crowd of thousands in support of Abdul El-Sayed for US Senate and Democratic ticket Barack Obama told a Detroit crowd on Saturday that Abdul El-Sayed was “fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket”, as he threw his weight behind the Democratic Senate candidate and the rest of the ticket on the first day of early voting in Michigan.…
Key points
- Barack Obama rallied for Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit on the first day of Michigan early voting.
- Obama said El-Sayed would finish the job started with the Affordable Care Act.
- The Senate race between El-Sayed and Mike Rogers is rated a toss-up.
Barack Obama spoke at a campaign rally for Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for US Senate, at Cass Technical high school in Detroit on Saturday. The event took place on the first day of Michigan's early voting period ahead of the general election on 3 November.
Obama told the crowd that El-Sayed was "fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket". He said El-Sayed would "finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American".
Attacks on Trump
Obama accused Donald Trump of "enriching himself and his family" and said the administration had set a "culture … at the top" of taking favors. He mocked defense secretary Pete Hegseth as "laser-focused" on the "jawline and testosterone levels of our troops".
On tariffs, Obama said Trump was toughest on "that well-known evil empire", referring to Canada. He also joked that Trump "should be on HGTV" over White House renovations.
He’ll finish the job we started
— Barack Obama
Race and polling
El-Sayed, a doctor and former Wayne county health official, beat congresswoman Haley Stevens in the August primary. Obama had stayed on the sidelines during that primary but spoke with El-Sayed by phone afterward.
El-Sayed faces Mike Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by Trump. A Marist poll in mid-October put El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48%, within the margin of error. The Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up.
