Why a Michigan Candidate Is Campaigning With Obama Despite Past Criticism

Thank you. Elsa, you've previously criticized President Obama.

Why are you campaigning with him? I'll take this question.

Do you love your dad? Yeah. Do you agree with everything your dad has ever done?

Do you? Not entirely. Yeah. So it's a normal thing to love somebody, to really appreciate all that they've done, and to say, "Hey, here's some things I would have done differently."

But they still did some important things to create opportunity for you.

There is no world in which I get to run for office without somebody like President Obama.

I remember watching his DNC speech in two thousand and four and thinking, "I never saw politics look like that before."

It was the first time I ever saw myself in a politician.

His dad immigrated from Africa. My dad immigrated from a different part of Africa.

He had mixed parents. I was raised by my dad and my stepmom, Jackie.

He got a funny name. I got a funny name. Although Remington, I'd trade you if you want.

He's tall and skinny, and that's where it ends. I'm five, eight.

All of that is to say that I deeply appreciate what he made possible for somebody like me.

And at the same time, I had criticisms. There were things that I looked at, I said, "Ah, I, I wish we could do that differently."

And you know what I'm trying to do now? I'm trying to pick up the baton and run. Right?

And that's not because of any an-animosity for him.

It's actually out of a deep love for him.

Just like I have a deep love for my dad and all that he's done to make my life possible, even if I don't agree with everything he ever did.

I have that kind of relationship with somebody like President Obama.

He was foundational to my ability to run for office.

I'm so grateful that he's coming to Michigan to campaign for me.

It means so much, and I hope that I can pick up where he left off.

You think about something like healthcare.

He ta-- called the ACA a starter home. I think we've outgrown the starter home.

I think he would agree. What do we do from here?