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Message: [QUOTE="Bombastus, post: 93846, member: 2178"] Donald Trump attacked Abdul El-Sayed's Muslim faith at a Michigan rally, making unfounded claims that the Democratic Senate hopeful has extremist ties. His remarks drew on fears of terrorism as Republicans seek to keep the seat. More than 4,000 people came to see Trump in Port Huron, a city near the Canadian border and about 60 miles from Detroit. The crowd cheered as he warned that an El-Sayed win could bring jihadists into America and put public safety at risk. El-Sayed, 41, is a U.S.-born Muslim with family roots in Egypt. He faces Mike Rogers, 63, a Republican whom Trump praised as a good fit for Michigan. The president also claimed El-Sayed had links to the Muslim Brotherhood, though no proof backs that charge. Polls cited in the campaign account showed El-Sayed with a slim lead. Trump had won Michigan by two points in the prior presidential race, yet a state survey put his approval at just 34% among likely voters. Jewish voters also drew criticism from Trump. He said they should feel ashamed if they back El-Sayed. The issue has split some Jewish voters in Michigan, with hundreds signing a public pledge of support while others prefer Rogers or remain unsure. Trump then accused Eman Abdelhadi, El-Sayed's half-sister, of praising the Hamas killings in Israel. Her online video had spoken of justice during war and hardship, but it did not name or applaud the attack. El-Sayed's aides say he rejects some of Abdelhadi's views and choice of words. They also call the charges of foreign terror ties racist and anti-Muslim. El-Sayed has denied any link to the Muslim Brotherhood. Critics have raised a letter he signed as a medical student. It urged Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's former president, to clear old regime allies from police and media roles. Morsi's party had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has not addressed that letter in detail. His spokesman, Cole Wozniak, says the campaign is focused on cutting living costs and dealing with graft in Washington. At a Grand Rapids event, El-Sayed argued that attacks on his name and faith do nothing to help people pay for gas. His point was that household costs, rather than his religion, should be the main topic of the race. Rogers has also raised claims about El-Sayed's relatives and their alleged Brotherhood links. He has called his opponent's politics extreme. Yet in a TV interview, he stopped short of backing Trump's claim that El-Sayed was a terrorist. Trump went further by saying El-Sayed's background should keep him off planes and away from classified files. He also argued that voters should not give him a Senate seat. His visit was one stop in a wide campaign swing through states such as Iowa, Ohio, and the Carolinas. El-Sayed had become a frequent target even at events far from Michigan. Other policy issues got less attention. Trump claimed the U.S. had acquired Greenland, but its deal with Denmark grants access for two more military bases, not control of the island. Iran came up as well. Trump said the country would not get nuclear arms and gave an upbeat view of how the war might end. He spent less of his speech on the rise in fuel costs tied to the conflict. Rogers has tried to set himself apart from Trump on some issues. He wants a swift end to the Iran war, has opposed tariffs on Canadian goods, and backs a one-year halt on new data centers. His campaign ads have largely kept Trump out of focus. The rally also had an odd detour. Trump spent several minutes praising the looks of Ohio Senator Jon Husted and rapper Nicki Minaj, who came along for the event. He made a crude remark about Minaj's body as the crowd watched. Michigan's contest could help decide which party runs the Senate. For El-Sayed, the main issue is the cost of living. Trump and Rogers have put much more focus on his beliefs and alleged links, leaving voters with very different campaign messages. [/QUOTE]

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