Abdul El-Sayed was the non-incumbent Democratic Senate candidate whom Republicans planned to run against in the general election. Republicans were thrilled when El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for Michigan’s open Senate seat, but Things didn’t go as well or as easily as Republicans expected.

El-Sayed has proven to be a good campaigner and an even better communicator.

There were many questions Meet The Press’s Kristen Welker could have started her interview with El-Sayed with. The most important issue for voters is the economy. Welker could have asked about gasoline prices, diesel prices, inflation or other economic issues that are top of mind.

Instead, she decided to ask:

You’ve announced that former President Obama will join you on the campaign trail in Detroit later this month. However, you criticized President Obama. After voting for his re-election in 2012, you wrote: “Obama was not the right choice. He simply was not the wrong one. This leader has waged war, violated our civil liberties, deported more people from our shores than any president before him, and the list of his failings goes on.” Do you still see President Obama’s presidency as a failure?

Every trip to the gas station and grocery store is painful, but Welker chose to start with Obama, seemingly designed to stir up controversy and divide Democrats.

It didn’t work.