Sanders Defends Michigan Candidate as Midterms Enter Final Stretch

Sen. Bernie Sanders defended Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Saturday, calling the Republican campaign against him "disgusting" and "racist." Sanders appeared on "Face the Nation" from Burlington, Vermont, two days before the midterm election.

The interview came as the presidential race entered its final weekend. President Donald Trump had held dozens of rallies in October and stated that he expected to "surprise a lot of people." Sanders, who is not running for reelection, said he had hosted tele-rallies and town halls in Maine and Michigan to support Democratic candidates Troy Jackson and Abdul El-Sayed.

Sanders addressed concerns about a primary loss for Rep. Haley Stevens, who has publicly voiced doubts about endorsing El-Sayed. Sanders said Stevens could be upset about the close primary but that voters in Michigan are ready to support El-Sayed against Republican nominee Mike Rogers. He described Rogers as a "rubber stamp" for the Trump administration.

The Vermont senator criticized specific advertisements running in Michigan that label El-Sayed a terrorist or a jihadist. Sanders said he had never seen such "fearmongering ads" in his life. He noted that El-Sayed is a medical doctor and that Republican claims of his ties to the Muslim Brotherhood are a source of intense debate.

Sanders predicted a "good victory" for El-Sayed in Michigan. He said voters would rebel against what he called "overt, absolute racism" from figures including Sen. Ted Cruz and President Trump. Sanders also defended El-Sayed's stance on Israel, stating that criticizing the Netanyahu government is not antisemitism.

The senator also discussed the U.S. Senate race in Alaska, where Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan said he would accept the results despite a Justice Department review. Sanders admitted that the Democratic effort to change the ballot in Alaska was "pretty dumb" but maintained it was not illegal. He expected the Senate to seat the winner if the count is certified.

Election officials reported that more than 52 million votes had already been cast ahead of the election. Sanders focused on the economy, noting that billionaire Elon Musk owns more wealth than the bottom 53 percent of American households. He said candidates like Angie Nixon in Florida are mobilizing working-class voters with this message.