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Bakari Sellers on GOP Keeping Control of Senate: Trump Did Something 'Obama Could Not Do'

November 7, 2018

CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers on Wednesday gave credit to President Donald Trump for his effectiveness in helping Republicans retain control of the Senate, saying he was able to do something that former President Barack Obama "could not do."

Sellers, a former Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, appeared on CNN's "Newsroom" where he was asked by co-host Jim Sciutto whether he believed Trump was helpful to Senate Republicans. Sciutto's question prompted Sellers to say, "Oh yeah," noting Trump's effectiveness in the Indiana and South Dakota races.

"He was helpful to future Senator-elect [Mike] Braun. Of course he was helpful to [Kevin] Cramer, and you look around the country, I think he actually did a good job," Sellers said. "Donald Trump did something that Barack Obama could not do, which is drag his coalition to support these Senate candidates and I think he deserves some credit for that."

Sellers said Trump was not, however, successful with House candidates, noting many people in urban areas did not embrace his agenda.

Over the final six days of the midterm campaigns, Trump held 11 rallies in eight states, according to Politico. He spent Tuesday night at the White House monitoring the election results, and he held a lengthly press conference on Wednesday afternoon where he discussed the results and his administration's plans moving forward.