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ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith warned Thursday that far-left streamer Hasan Piker could become a general-election liability for Democrats, telling POLITICO host Dasha Burns during “The Conversation with Dasha Burns” that Piker’s influence could hurt the party beyond its progressive base and give Republicans ammunition against candidates who embrace him.
Smith said he believed Piker’s growing political footprint would ultimately hurt Democrats.
“It’s a negative because I think over the long haul from a general populist perspective, it’s going to contaminate the electorate on the left side of the aisle,” he said. “It’s going to come back to haunt them.”
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith warned Hasan Piker’s growing influence could “contaminate” Democrats and “come back to haunt them.” (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
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The Republican National Committee (RNC) has already sought to turn Piker’s relationship with Democratic candidates into a broader indictment of the party. RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre told Fox News Digital in August that Democrats were refusing to confront Piker’s influence as Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed faced scrutiny over campaigning with the streamer.
“El-Sayed is a terrorist sympathizer and an America-hating socialist,” Baldassarre said. His refusal to distance himself from Hamas-hugging radicals like Hasan Piker reaffirms his true allegiance is to terrorist groups, not America,” she said. “Democrats’ refusal to disavow this clown shows they either share his poisonous ideology or they’re too cowardly to confront it.”
Smith’s warnings came as Piker’s role in Democratic politics has become an issue in one of the country’s most consequential Senate races. A recent Fox News poll of Michigan registered voters found Republican nominee Mike Rogers leading El-Sayed 51%-47%, within the margin of sampling error. While 98% of self-described Democratic Socialists of America supporters backed El-Sayed, his support dropped to 69% among non-DSA Democrats and independents.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has defended engaging Piker’s audience, saying “three million people” listen to the streamer. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
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El-Sayed previously explained directly to Smith why he has resisted pressure to disavow Piker, who has supported him and appeared alongside him during the campaign.
“What I’m saying is there are three million people who listen to Hasan,” El-Sayed said. “I want to offer them a pathway into an electoral movement where, rather than sit outside of the electoral system, they see a pathway around the things that they agree with that he says that I agree with, and a pathway that disavows the things that I disagree with. And so it’s important.”
Smith summarized El-Sayed’s strategy as an effort to win over Piker’s audience rather than an endorsement of the streamer personally.
“So, you’re not thinking about him. You’re not thinking about him. You’re thinking about the three million people that support him, and you’re trying to get those votes. That’s what you’re saying?” Smith said.
Smith said Republicans could use Piker’s rhetoric and ties to Democratic candidates as political ammunition in general elections. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
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El-Sayed confirmed Smith’s characterization. “Exactly,” he said.
Fox News Digital reported last week that El-Sayed attempted to put distance between his campaign and Piker after the streamer faced backlash over comments about American Jews and Israel. Piker endorsed El-Sayed and appeared at multiple campaign events, including his primary-night gathering.
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Piker has faced years of controversy over political rhetoric, including his 2019 declaration that “America deserved 9/11,” which he later retracted, and more recent remarks involving Israel and American Jews.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Piker, the DNC and the RNC for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
