Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, made a campaign visit to Central Michigan University Friday evening.
Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd, he delivered a stump speech just over three weeks away from the Nov. 3 election. Michigan's U.S. Senate race has garnered national attention because it will likely help determine if the GOP can maintain control of the chamber.
The visit came just a day after a testy televised debate with his Republican opponent, former congressman Mike Rogers. During the debate, the two candidates exchanged personal barbs and cross-talked over each other throughout.
The often contentious nature of the race brought Vicki Bunting, 61, an employee in Alma Public Schools, to CMU on Friday to see El-Sayed.
“Mostly it was because of the negative ads that we've seen over and over on television and about his family and his last name and his religion,” she said. “We just want to make our own opinion.”
The race is inching toward being the most expensive U.S. Senate race in state history, according to an analysis from Bridge Michigan. Bridge reports disclosed spending has reached over $205 million.
As conflict in the Middle East rages on, spending from groups related to the American-Israeli Affairs Council (or AIPAC) have defined the race.
The United Democracy Project spent over $33 million to boost Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who faced El-Sayed in the Democratic primary. The group is now spending on ads slamming El-Sayed, according to NBC News.
At CMU's Plachta Auditorium, El-Sayed discussed his support for Medicare for All and ending the U.S. war in Iran.
“We built a movement, having a conversation about what politics is supposed to be,” he said.
El-Sayed said his tax plan would tax capital gains over $1 million at the same rate of standard income. He also said he would like to add a tax on wealth over $1 billion.
“I just don't think it's right for you to think that your billion should make a second billion while everybody else is just struggling to make the first $100,000.”
El-Sayed took questions from audience members but left before taking questions from the media.
Pollsters say the race is likely within the margin of error. An average of polls from Real Clear Politics has El-Sayed up by just over three points over Rogers.
Meanwhile the Cook Political Report says the race is a toss-up.
Bunting said she is more engaged in this election compared to past ones. She said she's "getting near retirement age and the future is sitting here."
