(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) claimed she doesn’t think the current public tension between her and the man who crushed her bid to run for the U.S. Senate is a “melodrama” — despite days of head-scratching press appearances slamming Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign right before the midterms.
Stevens sat with The New York Times Friday, the same day El-Sayed’s (D) campaign reportedly told her to stay away from its events.
The interview came as Stevens and her fiancé, Jason Turkish, appear to be on a bit of a press tour.
In her interview with The Times, published early Saturday, Stevens repeated her frustration that El-Sayed dodged a question during a debate with Rogers asking if Iran or Israel was a bigger threat to the United States.
El-Sayed had dismissed the question as a “ridiculous hypothetical.”
Stevens has criticized El-Sayed for failing to directly answer, and told The Times of the dodge: “He’s a good speaker. He’s an orator. He is gifted. Then how does that happen? Come on!”
She has insisted she’s on the Democratic team and hasn’t withdrawn her endorsement of him. El-Sayed defeated Stevens in an August primary for the chance to challenge Mike Rogers (R) for the U.S. Senate.
Stevens also pledged to appear with El-Sayed at a campaign event on Sunday, which now appears in jeopardy after the El-Sayed campaign reportedly told her to stay way.
El-Sayed also issued a blistering statement accusing Stevens of trying to “relitigate” the primary.
She appeared baffled by the situation, telling The Times she didn’t know if the event was still happening or if she was even still welcome to attend.
“I haven’t had time to digest this. I don’t think this is a melodrama,” she said.
Meanwhile, Turkish — who said he’s going to vote for Rogers — appeared on Fox News early Saturday to criticize El-Sayed, call him antisemitic, and denounce El-Sayed for using Tucker Carlson clips in his ads.
The post Haley Stevens Claims: ‘I Don’t Think This Is a Melodrama’ After Days of Head-Scratching Press Appearances first appeared on Mediaite.
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