In Michigan Senate race, Republican Rogers eyes Black and Jewish voters as Obama heads in
As Michigan's US Senate race enters its final two weeks, Republican nominee Mike Rogers is arguing that Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed is vulnerable among two voter blocs that traditionally support Democrats — Black and Jewish voters. Republicans made their pitch to Michigan voters at a Fox News town hall on Monday night.
It is one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races. Fox News host Sean Hannity also spoke with Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. John James and House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, as the candidates sought to tie Michigan Democrats to government spending, socialism and the party's progressive wing ahead of the 3 November vote.
Early in the night, Rogers argued that his opponent, El-Sayed, could underperform among a handful of key demographics that traditionally support Democratic candidates, presenting political opportunities for Republicans.
Hannity pressed Rogers about El-Sayed's past criticism of former President Barack Obama, whom El-Sayed described as 'not the right choice' to advance a progressive agenda following Obama's 2012 re-election.
Rogers replied: 'He is dismissive in Detroit. We have just dozens of black pastors that we have talked to, neighborhood leaders in the city of Detroit that we've talked to. They're looking for a change.' He claimed his campaign is finding a response among these voters.
Notably, however, Obama himself is scheduled to campaign with El-Sayed in Detroit on 24 October and has released a video urging voters to support the Democratic nominee — a major weapon for the Democratic camp against Rogers's argument.
On Jewish voters, Rogers argued that El-Sayed's criticism of Israel could present a unique opportunity for Republicans. Recently, El-Sayed declined to answer whether he viewed Iran or Israel as a greater threat.
In that debate El-Sayed said: 'I think both of them have proven dangerous in their own way. One, at risk of attacking us. One, getting us into wars we have no business fighting.' Rogers has placed that remark at the centre of his argument.
By Rogers's calculation, there are about 70,000 Jewish Democrats in Michigan. If only half of them felt alienated by El-Sayed's remarks enough to support his campaign, it would provide a significant boost. He said an event the previous night drew over 1,000 people.
In his account, those voters are fired up and worried for their children, and his camp believes they will vote. Citing a figure of around 35,000 votes, Rogers sought to show that in a close contest that number alone could change the result.
For the El-Sayed camp, Obama's visit is a major opportunity — their aim is to use the former president's popularity to consolidate traditional Democratic voters. The fight in the final two weeks thus comes down to a contest over the same voter blocs.
Only the result of the 3 November vote will finally show how far Rogers's calculation matched reality, or whether the tide of Obama's campaigning kept the Democratic base intact.
