A contentious Democratic Senate primary in Michigan is highlighting former President Barack Obama’s legacy, with supporters of Rep. Haley Stevens spending $5 million on ads featuring Obama praising her work as chief of staff for the US Auto Rescue Task Force during the 2008 financial crisis.

Obama’s Endorsement

Although Obama hasn’t officially endorsed Stevens, the ads have led some voters to believe he has. The campaign is part of a larger effort to link Stevens to the former president in a state where Black voters make up around a quarter of Democrats.

The use of old campaign footage featuring Obama is a ‘shrewd’ strategy, according to veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod, especially in a state where Obama’s popularity remains high. Black voters are seeing the midterms through a lens of Republicans ‘dismantling’ Obama’s legacy, said Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch.

Stevens’ Campaign

Stevens’ role as chief of staff on the US Auto Rescue Task Force is a focal point of the ads, with her campaign highlighting her local roots and policy chops. The auto bailout was a key component of Obama’s program to help the economy recover from the Great Recession, and Stevens served as a liaison between corporate leadership, unions, and third-party suppliers.

Despite the history, the influential United Auto Workers union endorsed Stevens’ rival, Abdul El-Sayed, in June, citing his commitment to a strong working-class agenda. El-Sayed has mounted his own outreach to Black voters, releasing an ad that highlights his 2024 endorsement of Kamala Harris.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.