As Trump escalates extreme attacks, Democrats – finally – rally round El-Sayed

Michigan Democrats' establishment has largely closed ranks behind Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive nominee for U.S. Senate, as President Donald Trump and Republican allies intensify Islamophobic attacks on him. At a Port Huron rally on Sunday, Trump falsely labeled him a "jihadist" and Muslim Brotherhood member and brought up 9/11. El-Sayed says the attacks are meant to divert attention from the cost of gas, groceries and healthcare, according to The Guardian.

Bernie Sanders campaigned with him in Grand Rapids, and Barack Obama appeared with him in Detroit on the first day of early voting, his first public backing since El-Sayed's narrow August primary win over Haley Stevens. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders each sent $1m to his campaign, and Kamala Harris joined him last month. Elissa Slotkin and Chuck Schumer have also backed him, though several figures stressed disagreements, especially over Israel. Cory Booker never said El-Sayed's name during a CNN interview, and Stevens, whom AIPAC supported with close to $30m, was described as the coolest.

A Marist poll puts El-Sayed ahead of Republican Mike Rogers, 50% to 48%, among likely voters. The seat could help determine control of the Senate.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →