Barack Obama To Rally For El-Sayed

What happened

Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign with Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed at an October 24 rally in Detroit. Other Michigan Democrats, including gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson, are also set to appear. El-Sayed is running against Republican Mike Rogers for an open Senate seat in a close race that could help decide Senate control. The appearance follows El-Sayed’s past criticism of Obama’s presidency, including claims that it continued war, violated civil liberties and deported more people than any previous administration. El-Sayed has also described Obama’s 2008 win as the first time he saw himself reflected in politics. The rally is set for October 24.

How each side covered it

From the left

Only one left-leaning outlet we track covered this: Salon, under the headline “Abdul El-Sayed is the Democrat who keeps dominating Fox News”.

From the right

Right-leaning outlets framed Obama’s appearance as a strained alliance, emphasizing El-Sayed’s past criticism of the former president. The New York Post led with the old attacks resurfacing before the rally, calling it a history of “trashing Obama”. Townhall cast the visit as a warning sign for El-Sayed, saying Obama’s trip suggested the campaign was not steady with black voters.