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Obama to Rally for El-Sayed Despite Past Criticisms
Confirmed
In Short: Despite these criticisms, Obama has agreed to campaign for El-Sayed, who is facing Republican Mike Rogers in the November election.
Former President Barack Obama will join Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on the campaign trail in Detroit on October 24, El-Sayed announced on social media.
El-Sayed, who once criticized Obama's presidency for failing to deliver on progressive promises, will now campaign alongside the former president.
In a 2012 op-ed, El-Sayed accused Obama of disappointing progressives with his international record, economic performance, and acceptance of Muslim Americans.
Despite these criticisms, Obama has agreed to campaign for El-Sayed, who is facing Republican Mike Rogers in the November election.
Obama's decision to campaign for El-Sayed comes as he has been selective about whom he supports since leaving office.
El-Sayed's campaign also includes appearances by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Obama taped ads last week for Democratic candidates for governor and Senate, which will be released in the coming days and weeks.
El-Sayed's past criticisms of Obama include faulting him for perpetuating war, eroding civil liberties, and overseeing record deportations.
El-Sayed's campaign has also received support from 17 Jewish Democratic elected officials, party leaders, and activists urging him to affirm commitments concerning Jewish identity, safety, and Israeli statehood.
What this adds
El-Sayed's past criticisms of Obama's presidency have not been officially addressed by either candidate in recent statements.
Background
President Donald Trump traveled to Grand Island, Nebraska, to headline a campaign rally at the state fairgrounds, aiming to bolster Republican candidates ahead of the midterms.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed will campaign with former President Obama, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
What's confirmed
- "Looking forward to being in Detroit on 10/24 to campaign for Jocelyn Benson, Abdul El-Sayed and Democrats up and down the ballot in Michigan," Obama wrote, referring to the Democratic candidate for governor in the Wolverine State.
- “It is my honor and privilege to announce that President @ BarackObama is joining us on the trail in Detroit on Saturday, October 24,” El-Sayed wrote on social media.
- President Barack Obama will join Abdul El-Sayed on the campaign trail in Detroit on Oct. 24, El-Sayed announced on social media Monday.
What's still developing
- (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo) In particular, El-Sayed’s 2012 op-ed criticized Obama’s international record and strikes on Pakistan and Yemen, an underperforming economy and, in his view, little to no change in being accepted as a Muslim American.
- Obama has still not issued an official endorsement even though he is slated to take the stage alongside El-Sayed on Oct. 24 for a rally with other Michigan Democrats.
- "I feel no more dignified, no more accepted as cops throughout the country have usurped my right to walk the streets freely without fearing unjustified interference. Inequality has accelerated and the divide between the haves and have-nots in our country has never been starker," El-Sayed wrote.
- He also asserted that Obama’s record, as disappointing as it had seemed to him, was still better than the outlook of the failed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
- Former President Barack Obama will campaign in Detroit with Michigan Democrats later this month, giving the party a high-profile boost ahead of the start of the state’s early voting period.
- In comments reviewed by CNN’s KFile from Obama’s 2012 reelection through the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, El-Sayed faulted him for perpetuating war, eroding civil liberties, overseeing record deportations and preserving economic and healthcare systems that he said favored corporations over ordinary people.
- “We already know your boy going to NYC to raise MORE money from billionaires today,” the Rogers war room account responded.
- Steve Israel, then the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, had a metaphor he’d often share on party caucus calls and with sleep-deprived campaign staffers.
- Strada called out President Barack Obama, who was at the memorial, for vetoing the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, in 2016.
- "Nobody has gotten to the bottom of 9/11."
- Obama has generally stayed out of the spotlight since leaving the White House, though he has ocassionally appeared on the campaign trail for other Democratic candidates.
- Obama has been selective since leaving office regarding who he will campaign for and has historically increased his public presence in the final stretch of high-stakes elections.
Sources
- Fox Newslink
- Politicolink
- Senate Leadership Fundlink
- Washingtonexaminerlink
- Thebulwarklink
- Fox Newslink
- Justthenewslink
- Denvergazettelink
- Chicagotribunelink
- Factchecklink
- Theatlanticlink
- Mediaitelink
- Breitbartlink
- Jpostlink
- WarpBeat — background on Trump travels to Neb., headlining campaign rally at state fairgrounds as early midterms voting begins link
- WarpBeat — background on El Sayed Announces Campaign Stops With Obama, AOC, and Mamdani link
- The Daily Signal — video link