Former political reporter Ron Fournier discusses Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on “Morning Joe,” describing him as one of the most talented political campaigners he has covered.

WILLIE GEIST, ‘MORNING JOE’ CO-HOST: So, Ron, talk a little bit about, if you would, about Abdul El-Sayed. Obviously, there’s been this national attempt in the state of Michigan to paint him as a radical, and I think some people do not disagree, obviously, with his views on Israel, for example. He has some things to answer for there. But what kind of public servant has he been? What kind of candidate has he been? And then what kind of, potentially, United States senator would he be for Michigan? RON FOURNIER, FORMER POLITICS REPORTER: I use the word radical in the sense of populism, that both parties, because of how dysfunctional our politics are and how weak our economy and our way of life is in America now, there’s a push from both extremes to have a more populist movement. Abdul El-Sayed is a, as a public servant, relatively untested. He’s been a public health doctor in Wayne County, in Detroit. Wayne County is the main county here in the state. As a politician, one of the most talented political athletes I’ve ever seen. And I covered Bill Clinton in Arkansas, in Washington. He’s charismatic. He’s on message. He knows how to connect with people in big arenas in Detroit. And I’m up here in northern Michigan. I’ve seen him in small libraries in red counties, connecting with folks. He’s very ambitious. He’s very mission- and values-driven. He’s somebody to watch, whether he wins or lose today. He’s the type of candidate that’s the future of the Democratic Party, for better or worse.

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