'Campaign grenade': Hasan Piker Minnesota event sparks backlash

A pair of prominent Minnesota Democrats have announced they are hosting polarizing streamer Hassan Piker in the last few days of this election season. The decision by State Senator Omar Fateh and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has prompted pushback from Republicans and some DFLers as well. Now, our Corinne Hoggart has a look at the potential campaign consequences, who is upset, and which candidates could benefit. Across the country, Democrats have tried to avoid the subject of Hassan Piker. The Wall Street Journal asked if the party has a Piker problem. The Atlantic called the focus on his history of controversial comments a crisis for Democrats in Michigan who've associated with the streamer with 11 million social media followers. What's going on, Minneapolis? Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar will welcome Piker to Minnesota for a podcast next week. Fateh posted that the event sold out in five minutes. But some political analysts are warning that it brings a conversation a lot of DFLers would rather not have. With Piker, it is just tossing a grenade into the campaign. It's going to knock Flanagan off of her main talking points about affordability and Donald Trump. It's going to create a split within the DFL. There's nothing about this that's going to be a positive. Dr. Larry Jacobs says hosting Piker is a no-win situation for statewide Democrats. He says it'll force those candidates to either alienate more moderate voters, alienate DFL Jews, or alienate the progressives. Piker has walked back some of his troublesome comments, including that America deserved 9-11. But the Jewish Community Relations Council documented a long history of statements they consider hateful and anti-Semitic. The group quickly labeled Hosting Piker as a betrayal of Jewish Minnesotans. Congresswoman Omar's campaign explained the event as an energizer for young voters. Quote, early voting among people under 40 is down, and we need to do everything to get young people to the polls. The congresswoman knows the Democratic Party is a big tent party, and she's excited to join Senator Omar Fateh's event to mobilize young voters and get them to vote in this critical midterm election. end quote. Her congressional opponent seized on it, though, and criticism also came from Congresswoman Angie Craig and Senator Amy Klobuchar, who called some of Piker's statements reckless and unacceptable. I think it was motivated by progressives who are situated in safe districts in Minneapolis, and they just don't understand the competitive battle in Minnesota. Minnesota overall is at parity, and the statewide race, particularly between Peggy Flanagan and Michelle Tafoya is a toss-up with about 10% undecided. Flanagan went silent a couple months ago when Piker endorsed her campaign, and she's staying silent again as he now is coming to Minnesota for an event. She has not responded for the last couple of days as Fox 9 tried to get a response to his appearance. That event will take place next Monday here in Minneapolis, although the location has not been announced. In Minneapolis, Corinne Hoggart, Fox 9.