Obama endorses Slotkin for US Senate, tapes ad for her
Former President Barack Obama on Friday endorsed U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat and taped a campaign ad for her in which he called her "a true public servant who has dedicated her career to serving the American people, no matter who is in the White House."
Slotkin, a three-term Democratic congresswoman, served as an intelligence officer under both Obama, a Democrat, and Republican former President George W. Bush, as part of the national security staff. Obama also made her an acting assistant Defense Department secretary.
She faces Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake in the Nov. 5 election.
Republican former President Donald Trump has endorsed Rogers. The race for the open Senate seat being vacated by Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow is considered a key one to which party controls the chamber in January.
In the ad titled, "Make You Proud," which can be viewed here, Obama says he saw Slotkin's "leadership and character up close," with her delivering national security briefings and negotiating on behalf of his White House.
"She understood when to compromise and when to stand firm," he says in the ad. "And that’s why I nominated her to be an assistant secretary of Defense. Elissa is the kind of leader we need, tough, independent, and effective. She’ll get the job done and she will make you proud.”
The ad is expected to begin running Friday on digital channels and radio in Michigan.
Contact Todd Spangler: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Obama endorses Slotkin for US Senate, tapes ad for her