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Barack Obama's endorsement of Abdel Said drew mixed reactions from Detroit's black voters, and undecided residents said it didn't move the needle.

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DETROIT, MI - Former President Barack Obama's endorsement of Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdelazid has had a mixed reception among black voters in Detroit, with some undecided voters saying the former president's endorsement isn't enough to sway them.

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Even some voters who support Al-Sayed said that Obama's support did not help them much.

Detroit's black voters were also divided over Al-Sayed's past criticism of Obama, especially now that the two are preparing to campaign together.

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In a 2012 opinion column, Al-Sayed accused then-President Obama of perpetuating war, violating civil liberties and deporting more people than any previous president. He described Obama's re-election as a "no win" and wrote, "It was a rock we picked over a hard place."

Al-Sayed has since dismissed the criticism, praising Obama's handling of the conditions he inherited, noting that he could disagree with someone while admiring them.

"I think I see it as a flip, but I also see it as an opportunity to highlight those things and how he works," Anthony said. "You know, people's goals change, their perspectives change," Anthony said.

Nia, an African-American voter who said she plans to support Al-Said, said pivots like Al-Said are common in politics, citing Vice President JD Vance's past criticism of President Donald Trump as an example.

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One middle-aged black woman told the MS NOW panel: “I think he's using us as black Democrats and he thinks we're going to vote for him anyway. "And I say, 'No sir, I'm going to sit on that little circle without commitment and carry on.'

While the GOP sees an opportunity here, it has long struggled to win minority support with mixed results.

Candia Milton, a public affairs specialist with deep ties to Detroit's African American community, disputed the narrative that Alcide would struggle with black voters in November.

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"The important thing about Abdul is that he's not new to Detroiters. ... And then Detroiters," Hamilton once said of Al-Said, "He's been very active in getting into the community. In fact, we're having a public meeting with Abdul tomorrow at our church. Where he'll be talking to the community around, you know, the issues that he stands on and stands on."

Milton described Obama's endorsement of Al-Sayed as a "big shot" for his campaign, noting the former president's "credibility in our community" and arguing that the endorsement "dispels the perception that there are tensions between him and former President Obama." Still, Milton wasn't surprised that some black voters said Obama's support alone wasn't enough to win them over.