Daniel Wolfram
A stunt pulled by a Republican super PAC trying to pit Democratic voters against the Senate candidate in Michigan backfired spectacularly.
With the Michigan Senate race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers becoming even tighter according to recent polls, the GOP is pulling out all the stops to try to win the seat.
First, President Donald Trump showed up to talk about himself and then throw his support behind Rogers.
Then, the GOP tried to turn El-Sayed’s own political party against him by claiming that a lot of Democratic Party voters would show up to a support rally for Rogers because they were so disillusioned with their own candidate.
There was just one problem: no one showed up.
No one came to the rally
The rally was organized by a super PAC whose previous name was “Democrats for Mike Rogers.” The rally was supposed to show Michiganders that there were a lot of Democrats who would vote for El-Sayed’s Republican opponent.
However, instead of a packed crowd voicing their support, photos showed an almost deserted parking lot. No one showed up, which means that there are no Democrats who are voting for Mike Rogers.
There were more journalists in the parking lot where the whole thing was organized than actual Democratic supporters of Mike Rogers.
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Deep partisan pockets
The funding for this rally can be traced back to rich Republicans. According to Federal Election Commission reports published by The Bulwark, wealthy conservative donors supply virtually all of the committee’s cash.
Transport firm Penske handed over $250,000. Michigan investor Anthony Soave contributed $100,000, and New York real estate executive Richard Bassuk chipped in $15,000.
Filings also show payments to Lex Politica, a legal shop founded by Texas Republican Chris Gober, whom Donald Trump once praised as a “MAGA warrior.” Furthermore, big names like Elon Musk and Republican Senator Ted Cruz among the firm’s high-profile clients.
Online critics offered little sympathy for the empty lot. Pointing to the vacant chairs and the big checks, journalist Zaid Jilani asked, “They couldn’t pay enough people to show up?”
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