Newz(AP) — Republicans are working aggressively to make Abdul El-Sayed the face of the opposition. The Democratic Senate nominee from Michigan was a frequent punching bag during this week’s GOP convention, where a steady stream of Republicans singled him out. They attacked his progressive views, his ties to a far-left commentator and his Muslim faith, elevating his profile as they look to paint all Democrats as radical extremists.
Mike Rogers, El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, alleged the Democrat is being funded by “terrorist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood” but offered no proof to back up his claim. President Donald Trump called him an “extremist” and attacked the political views of members of his family. Several speakers used his full name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed.
He would be the nation’s first Muslim senator. A day after the confab ended, El-Sayed campaigned in East Lansing, a college town where he’s counting on strong support from young voters, and downtown Lansing, where he spoke in front of a crowd that ranged from college students to retirees. “They want to point to me and my name and my faith as if somehow that’s the problem, but none of those things are what’s raising your gas prices or making a new home unaffordable,” he told reporters, shifting the conversation to the economic anxiety that Democrats want voters to be thinking about when they cast their ballots.
He also criticized the trade war with Canada — to which Michigan’s auto industry is particularly vulnerable — and wars overseas. El-Sayed later said he wishes he didn’t have as much of a national profile. “At the end of the day, I’m a lot more interested in the future of Michiganders than the future of a party,” El-Sayed said at Friday’s second event.
“I didn’t run because I was interested in having all of these big national debates.” Hundreds turn out to see El-Sayed About 400 students filled an auditorium at Michigan State University’s student union, some standing along the walls after chairs filled. The event, billed as a students versus billionaires town hall, turned students away when the room hit capacity. Many of those shut out stood outside and booed when the doors were closed.
Students inside the venue asked questions about healthcare policy, data centers and affordable housing. The crowd cheered when El-Sayed talked about taking money out of politics, impl… He would be the nation's first Muslim senator.A day after the confab ended, El-Sayed campaigned in East Lansing, a college town where he's counting on strong support from young voters, and downtown Lansing, where he spoke in front of a crowd that ranged from college students to retirees.“They want to point to me and my name and my faith as if somehow that’s the problem, but none of those things are what’s raising your gas prices or making a new home unaffordable,” he told reporters, shifting the conversation to the economic anxiety that Democrats want voters to be thinking about when they cast their ballots.He also criticized the trade war with Canada — to which Michigan’s auto industry is particularly vulnerable — and wars overseas.El-Sayed later said he wishes he didn’t have as much of a national profile.“At the end of the day, I’m a lot more interested in the future of Michiganders than the future of a party,” El-Sayed said at Friday's second event.
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