(Image source from: Detroit Metro Times)

Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for governor in Michigan knows his candidacy is a long-shot, but that does not mean that he is going to back down in his quest for Michigan's governor - even if that means fighting against some of the party's most powerful Democrats.

In an interview with Vice News Tonight on HBO, which was aired on Monday evening, El-Sayed discusses his campaign as a progressive candidate and how he attempts to diffuse the issues of his religion - and his color - with humor.

"Being able to dispense what the clear difference is, and frankly other people's discomfort with those differences via humor is always an easy way to get us to the goal," he says.

We spoke with Abdul El-Sayed, a 33-year-old physician running as the Bernie Sanders-esque candidate for Michigan governor.

See it on VICE News Tonight, 7:30 PM EDT on @HBO pic.twitter.com/VQpoECH54t

— VICE News (@vicenews) July 30, 2018

But El-Sayed has had to deal with religion-focused attacks from one of his GOP opponents - attacks which one of his Democratic opponents has refused to denounce. El-Sayed also told VICE News "very powerful people" in the Michigan Democratic Party told him he'd have trouble winning because of his religion and name.

VICE News spent time in Michigan with El-Sayed to see how the Democrat is responding to the attacks and handling his religion on the campaign trail.

By Sowmya Sangam