Obama to Campaign for Anti-Israel Candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan

Former U.S. President Barack Obama is expanding his political involvement ahead of the midterm elections, scheduled to appear at a rally in Detroit on October 24 alongside Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate for Michigan. El-Sayed, a physician and son of Egyptian immigrants, is a prominent progressive voice known for his strong criticism of Israeli policy.

El-Sayed secured a narrow victory in the Democratic primary, supported by figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and facing opposition from groups like AIPAC. The rally will take place on the first day of early in-person voting in Michigan, ten days before Election Day. This event marks a significant increase in Obama's political activity, which has included recording dozens of campaign ads for various candidates and planning further public appearances.

Obama's endorsement of El-Sayed is particularly notable given the deep divisions within the Democratic party exposed during the Michigan primaries. El-Sayed narrowly defeated U.S. Representative Haley Stevens, who had the backing of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. El-Sayed's progressive base, including Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, rallied behind him. This support, combined with a recent campaign appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris, suggests El-Sayed is receiving symbolic backing from the Democratic establishment.

El-Sayed, a public health official and former director of the Detroit Department of Health, is identified with the progressive wing of the party. His policy positions include universal public healthcare, increased taxes on the wealthy, and campaign finance reform. He is running for the Senate seat vacated by Senator Gary Peters against Republican candidate Mike Rogers in a race considered crucial for Senate control.

El-Sayed's stance on Israel has been a central point of contention. He has voiced strong opposition to U.S. military aid to Israel, criticized its actions in Gaza, and labeled the conflict "genocide." He has also called the Israeli government "evil" and accused AIPAC of distorting American democracy. During debates, he accused his opponent of supporting a foreign government that denies Palestinians self-determination.

AIPAC and affiliated groups reportedly spent nearly $30 million in the primaries to support Stevens, the largest sum ever invested by these organizations in a single race. Tensions also rose when El-Sayed sent a fundraising email on the second anniversary of the October 7th attacks, referring to the Gaza operation as "genocide" without mentioning Hamas's attack, for which his campaign later apologized.

Efforts to unify the party have been evident since El-Sayed's primary victory. At a recent event in Detroit, he avoided mentioning Israel or AIPAC and appeared alongside Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin. Ironically, during the primaries, campaign materials featuring Obama praising Stevens were used, despite his official neutrality at the time. The chosen rally location in Detroit is an area where Stevens had previously defeated El-Sayed in the primaries. Obama's appearance, as the first Black president, is also seen as a strategic move to mobilize the local Black voting base as early voting begins.