Several polls showed Abdul El-Sayed in a close race with former Republican representative Mike Rogers, in one of the midterm's most expensive contests. (EPA Images pic)

MICHIGAN: Former president Barack Obama and president Donald Trump both plan to campaign in Michigan during the coming weeks in a showdown to bolster their candidates, especially in the key Senate race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and opponent Mike Rogers, just ahead of the Nov 3 election.

Obama’s Oct 24 appearance - coming about a month after former vice president Kamala Harris campaigned with El-Sayed - underscores the stakes for Democrats in Michigan, long seen as a must-win for the party if it wants to retake the Senate.