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Michigan's El-Sayed targeted by Republicans in midterms race: Will the religion card work?

· France 24

If you're the president of the United States, the answer is apparently yes. When Donald Trump calls Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a jihadist, it barely makes news. Does exposing voters to a daily diet of slander and slop work? Does it do lasting damage to our societies?

We ask about El-Sayed vying to become the first ever Muslim elected to the US Senate and about his Republican opponent, former Congressman Mike Rogers. We also ask whether, in a swing state that's the birthplace and home of the US auto industry, voters care more about faith and identity or tariffs and inflation.

Read moreA tale of two economies: How America's cost-of-living crisis is shaping US midterm elections

Speaking of the economy, El-Sayed campaigned as a Democratic Socialist. When he won his primary, pundits predicted a progressive wave within the Democratic Party, but in the closing days of the campaign, he's also had former president Barack Obama and the moderate wing on display. It's not just which party wins these midterms – it's how far those parties move away from the political centre.