Abdul El-Sayed Birthday Rally in Pontiac, MI - Photos/Video
The rally in Pontiac was a quick one with a bunch of speakers - focusing on the issues and the importance of voting - except for two things. It was not only Halloween (you can check out some of the photos below) it was the candidates birthday. Which of course his supporters took notice.
As someone who for the most part covers the far right and conservative rallies it's always a shocking shift when I cover something the El-Sayed campaign. The crowd was joyous but not in a cult-like USA USA USA mentality that Trump rallies turn into when the President threatens a protester with a beating, or describes a mans body is a very uncomfortable way.
The rally-goers here were different, happy to be there, happy to finally have a candidate that isn't a compromise. It reminds me of when I speak to NYers who voted for Mamdani. They didn't blindly believe that he was going to lead them into some New Deal utopia but they believed that he would at least fight for them.
All of this is under the cloud of centrist Democrats shockingly talking shit about one of their parties candidates. A guy that not only would be a historic win but also could be the 51st causing the Senate to flip - and thus protecting the Supreme Court from somehow even getting worse.
While that does seem to bother and confuse voters here in Pontiac, they're more focused on bringing new voters out to vote. Riley who works in education and has been active on the ground protecting her community is brining her niece out to vote for her list time.
I spoke to Andrew who was happy to finally have someone he was motivated to vote for - someone that could win. He was worried about the rise of Christian Nationalism, something that in this race has become more open than in either of our memories. Trump has accused El-Sayed of being a "jihadist" even bringing the father of one of the victims of 9/11 on stage to make up shit about the Democratic candidate.
The 10/31 rally was also a cookout run by pit master Uncle Jerry who spoke to me about supporting El-Sayed because of the DR. in front of his name (also about his BBQ).
At the rally there was a speed run of local and state Democratic candidates speaking before Abdul - including the junior Senator from Maryland Angela Alsobrooks.
Some of the fun costumes that people wore to early vote and to rally with Abdul.
I'll have another full news piece with photos and video for you tomorrow, maybe two. Until then, please subscribe - if you can for a monthly $5 - it would mean the world to helping me cover the costs on the road.
