Obama's star power gets a reality check from Black voters in crucial Senate race: 'It's a turnoff'

Barack Obama's backing of Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has not clinched the support of every Black voter in Detroit, a bloc the party relies on in the state. Fox News Digital talked with over twelve Black residents of the city. Most are planning to vote for El-Sayed this fall, yet several who remain undecided said the former president's endorsement left them unmoved. One of them, identified as Mercedes, called it a turn-off, saying too many candidates have leaned on Obama to steer Democratic voters. Others said they want to reach their own conclusions.

About half of those interviewed said the endorsement raised their view of El-Sayed, though none of them had been undecided beforehand. Jamel described himself as an Obama fan, and Kenya said the endorsement carries weight in her community.

Voters were also split on the coming joint appearances in Michigan, given that El-Sayed wrote a 2012 column faulting Obama on war, civil liberties and deportations. El-Sayed has since softened that stance. Juanita found the pairing illogical, while Nia called such reversals ordinary politics. Republican Mike Rogers is trying to attract disenchanted Democrats in the same electorate.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →