Obama targets Wayne County gap

Barack Obama launched his first public bid to help Abdul El-Sayed win the Michigan Senate seat on Saturday. Speaking at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, the former president addressed thousands of supporters on the first day of early voting for the 3 November general election. He described El-Sayed as a candidate fighting for real change that will shift money out of politics and into voters' pockets.

The campaign trail began earlier in the day in Cleveland, Ohio. There, Obama campaigned for former senator Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton. The Detroit stop marks the first in-person campaign event for the former president during these midterm elections. He appeared alongside Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor, and former Senator Elissa Slotkin.

Obama's endorsement resolves a period of uncertainty following the August primary. El-Sayed, a doctor and former Wayne County health official, defeated Haley Stevens in a contentious race. Stevens had the backing of the party establishment and pro-Israel groups, while Obama remained neutral during that contest. The two men have since spoken by phone, with El-Sayed describing the former president as a mentor.

The former president acknowledged their past disagreements, noting that El-Sayed did not like some of his presidential actions. He stated that they would not agree on every detail, comparing this to his own relationship with his wife. Obama contrasted El-Sayed's platform with his own legacy, saying the nominee would finish the work started with the Affordable Care Act to guarantee affordable healthcare for all Americans.

The race remains tight. A Marist poll from mid-October shows El-Sayed at 50% and Republican challenger Mike Rogers at 48%, within the margin of error. RealClearPolitics averages place El-Sayed ahead by 2.6 points. The Cook Political Report rates the contest a toss-up. Republicans, who have not held a Michigan Senate seat in 25 years, view this as a strong opportunity for a pickup.

El-Sayed faces a steep challenge in Wayne County, Detroit's home county. In the August primary, Stevens won that area by a margin of 51% to 45%. Obama told the crowd they must reverse that deficit. He criticized the Trump administration for taking favors and mocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's focus on troop appearance. He also joked that Trump's White House renovations made the building look like a Cheesecake Factory.

Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Port Huron on Sunday. The city announced this will be the first presidential visit to St Clair County. If El-Sayed wins, he will become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American to serve in the US Senate.