In a dramatic last–minute twist in Michigan, a failed Democratic Senate contender publicly backed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, flipping on Abdul El–Sayed just days before the midterm vote.
'My mind is made up, I'm rock solid. I'm an independent woman, I made my decision,' Haley Stevens declared during a tense Sunday night appearance with CNN's Anderson Cooper, who questioned her abrupt flip.
The explosive endorsement triggered an immediate mutiny inside her campaign, with the majority of her Capitol Hill team abruptly resigning after discovering her political betrayal on social media, according to CNN.
Former Governor Jim Blanchard, a close friend and supporter of Stevens, saw her on Friday for dinner - when she still backed El–Sayed.
Something happened between their dinner and her public defection on Sunday. And the ex-governor blames her fiancé, Jason Turkish, a Jewish Democrat.
Turkish has warned that El-Sayed's 'reckless' campaign rhetoric 'puts Jews at risk,' saying he will put 'country before party.'
The prominent Jewish attorney claimed he would feel 'less safe on this planet' if El-Sayed wins, accusing the Democratic nominee of fanning antisemitic threats and failing to denounce controversial outside ads that blamed aid to Israel for rising grocery prices.
In an interview with Gongwer News Service, a local Michigan publication, Blanchard placed the blame squarely on Turkish.
Stevens' fiance, Jason Turkish, said Wednesday that he would be casting a vote for Republican candidate Mike Rogers
The unlikely duo spoke to crowds after exiting church on Sunday
He had endorsed Rogers last week and began the campaign to sway Haley to his views, according to Blanchard.
'He was working her over,' Blanchard said about their dinner on Friday. 'The way he was saying it was, 'Everyone is disappointed in you, they did everything they could to help you, and then immediately after you lose the primary, you endorsed him.'
The former governor says he gave a strong rebuttal at dinner.
'Yeah, because she's a team player,' Blanchard said he told Turkish. 'You have to be gracious. Come on,' he said.
The support reportedly fell on deaf ears.
'He said, 'I know, but they're really disappointed in her,' Blanchard said.
Blanchard said he told Stevens that Turkish was not a good influence, to which she responded, 'I'm fine.'
During the early morning hours, Blanchard said he got a text from Stevens saying 'I love you…'
A few hours later, Stevens was seated with Rogers at church, publicly endorsing him.
'Something snapped in her. And it snapped in 24 hours,' Blanchard said. 'And I don't know what.'
She was all smiles on Sunday morning as she arrived at Detroit's Perfecting Church, beaming broadly while standing and clapping right alongside Rogers throughout the service.
The unusual scene comes amid a midterms battle in Michigan that is marred with Democratic infighting
Abdul El-Sayed speaks to media on the day of a 'Souls to the Polls' campaign rally. He refused to answer any questions about Stevens and Rogers
Which US president are YOU? Take the quiz
The midterms are approaching and soon Americans across the USA will be voting. But do you know which US president, past or present, best reflects your political views?
Are you a George Washington or an Abraham Lincoln? Like Franklin D. Roosevelt or Donald Trump?
Take Daily Mail's quiz and find out...
Moments after stepping out of the church service, Stevens called a press conference to make her support for the Republican official.
She revealed that even her own home was a house divided 'until last night,' when she finally resolved to throw her weight behind Rogers.
Stevens added a bitter swipe at El–Sayed, claiming her former Democratic ally made it crystal clear he didn't need her support for the remainder of his campaign.
Stevens confirmed: 'My vote will be with Mike Rogers. Because we have to stand with country. We cannot stand for hate. Abdul was very clear when he said 'don't come.'
'Everyone can take a look at the facts. This is about leadership and integrity,' she told a crowd of supporters and reporters.
Rogers then said: 'I am honored to have Haley Stevens support and her vote today. I'm candidly happy I'm not running against her.'
During the press conference, a protester screamed out: 'Haley Stevens is a traitor!'
Turkish said Wednesday that he would be casting a vote for El–Sayed's opponent, Rogers.
El–Sayed, a vocal critic of Israel, previously campaigned with Hasan Piker, drawing concern from some in Michigan's Jewish community.
Representative Haley Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the primary, endorsed Rogers on Sunday and appeared alongside him at a Detroit church
Read More
EXCLUSIVE The Trump campaign chief being lined up as the midterm scapegoat
One controversial ad features moments during conversations in a grocery store, including one where a woman tells a man she can't afford eggs because they had to use their money 'killing Palestinians.'
El–Sayed's campaign has noted that the ad was not made or endorsed by the campaign and said it 'has always been focused on addressing the most critical challenges Michiganders are facing.'
El–Sayed himself told reporters on Saturday that he did 'not agree with the contents of that ad.'
On Sunday afternoon, he spoke in front of crowds for the first time since the news of Stevens' deflection.
'At the end of the day, I actually don't think about Haley Stevens,' El–Sayed told the group of reporters asking after Steven's shocked the country with her decision.
'I'm in the business of trying to solve problems for the people in my state. So if you want to ask me questions about the issues people in my state are facing, I am happy to answer them,' he added.
El–Sayed heads into Tuesday's election with a lead in the polls, despite a last–minute betrayal from inside his own party.
A New York Times/Siena survey released Sunday put him 11 points ahead of Rogers, 53 percent to 42 percent, though CNN's polling average shows a tighter five–point margin.
Most of the recent surveys were finished before Stevens endorsed Rogers on Sunday.
President Trump weighed in to the furore erupting among the Democrats, writing on Truth Social: 'Wow, this is BIG! Congresswoman Haley Stevens, a Highly Respected Democrat, who narrowly lost in the Primary to Abdul Mohamed El–Sayed, and who has been breathlessly wined and dined by the Dumocrats to help in their Michigan Campaign for the United States Senate against Mike Rogers, has just ENDORSED Mike Rogers for Senate!'
Trump even invited Stevens into the Republican Party.
Source link
