Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed a "jihadist" at a Michigan rally as a new poll shows El-Sayed ahead of Mike Rogers
A Glengariff Group poll for WDIV and The Detroit News had El-Sayed at 51.4% and Rogers at 45.1%. Democrats called the rally's attacks Islamophobic.
At a Sunday rally in Port Huron for Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers and governor nominee John James, President Trump said, "I'm here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator," CBS News Detroit reported. Trump also said El-Sayed would be the only senator who "will have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate," and said Democrats would "invite hordes of jihadists to our shores," Al Jazeera reported, adding that there is no evidence El-Sayed, a U.S. born former public health official, belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood. Earlier this month, asked in Caro whether he would disavow the group, El-Sayed said "absolutely," CBS News Detroit reported.
Trump said of the Iran war, "I made that decision, and I have no second guess," Al Jazeera reported, noting Michigan gas averaged $4.83 a gallon, up from $2.91 before the war. Rogers pledged to make housing more affordable and "bring back the 200,000 jobs" he said Democrats had driven out, WDIV reported; Nicki Minaj and Dr. Oz also appeared. At a Grand Rapids rally with El-Sayed, Sen. Bernie Sanders said, "All they can do is foment hatred and divisiveness," and Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Republicans had shown they would back "Trump's toxic agenda," according to CBS News Detroit.
A Glengariff Group survey of 600 likely voters for WDIV and The Detroit News, taken Oct. 19 to 22 with a margin of error of 4 points, had El-Sayed at 51.4%, Rogers at 45.1% and 3.6% undecided, WDIV reported. Separately, El-Sayed's campaign said it had no affiliation with a Rebellion PAC ad linked to Cenk Uygur that tied aid to Israel to food prices and drew accusations of antisemitism, Fox News reported. El-Sayed campaigned Monday in Detroit and Lansing and blamed Rogers for the state takeover of Detroit Public Schools, while Rogers said he hopes to outperform expectations among Black voters, according to Fox News. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to campaign in Howell on Tuesday.
What is established
- Glengariff Group, Oct. 19 to 22, 600 likely voters: El-Sayed 51.4%, Rogers 45.1%.
- Rogers' favorability was 32.2% favorable and 49.2% unfavorable; El-Sayed's was 42.2% and 44.8%.
- The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring.
- Obama campaigned for El-Sayed in Detroit the day before Trump's rally.
What each side says
"I'm here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator."
Trump and his allies use Islamophobia because they have nothing to say on health care and housing: "All they can do is foment hatred and divisiveness."
He will make housing more affordable and "bring back the 200,000 jobs" he says Democrats drove out.
How it was covered
Left 2 reports
Al Jazeera and CBS News Detroit led with the attacks on El-Sayed's faith, which Al Jazeera called Islamophobic, and noted there is no evidence for the Muslim Brotherhood claim.
Center 2 reports
WDIV covered the rally as a Republican ticket event with Rogers' and James' pitches, and led its poll story with El-Sayed's lead while noting Rogers remains within striking distance.
Right 1 report
Fox News highlighted the El-Sayed campaign distancing itself from a PAC ad accused of antisemitism, and El-Sayed's and Rogers' pitches to Black voters.