DETROIT, MI - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, fired up a crowd for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, just two days before the Michigan's primary election.

"I'm here not only because I support the very bold and progressive ideas of Abdul, but because I appreciate the kind of campaign that he is running," Bernie told the crowd of around 1,400 supporters Sunday afternoon.

El-Sayed is one of three Democrats competing in the Aug. 7 gubernatorial primary. He's strived to portray himself as more progressive than his opponents, Shri Thanedar and Gretchen Whitmer.

At the rally with Sanders - one of two, as the pair are slated to speak in Ypsilanti later on Sunday -- El-Sayed hit on the highlights of his platform in his speech. He wants to "de-DeVos" public schools, guarantee Michiganders safe water, put a $15 minimum wage in place and institute single-payer health care and reverse auto insurance rates.

He also spoke out forcefully against discrimination, including against people for their skin color, ethnicity, sex or being LGBT.

"I'm done waiting while people all over the state are told that they don't belong," El-Sayed said.

Bernie Sanders, too, spoke of an all-inclusive vision. He said the ideas he and El-Sayed had were not radical, they were ideas that resonated with the American people.

And he was dismissive of polls that showed El-Sayed coming in third of three candidates in the primary.

"I understand there has been some discussion here in Michigan about the polling and the fact that Abdul is behind on some of the polls. So let me give you the personal perspective," he said.

Sanders was down 27 points in the polls the day before the primary, he said.

"And that was pretty good, because the poll the day before had me 36 points behind. Well, we won that election. And by the way, so will Abdul," Sanders said.

The crowd was enthusiastic when speakers referenced systemic changes to the health care system. El-Sayed supports single-payer health care.

"We believe that it's time for Democrats to stop pussyfooting and playing around with health care. We need a real health care plan," said Rev. Charles Williams, president of the Michigan National Action Network to a roar of applause.

El-Sayed spoke of his experience leading Detroit's health department and the systemic issues he saw.

Many in the crowd were supporters of both El-Sayed and Sanders. That was the case for Adam Stout, 22, of Marysville, who voted for him in his first ever presidential primary. Sanders' message resonated with Stout, and so does El-Sayed's.

"When the governor's race started and I started to read about Abdul's campaign... it was kind of a no-brainer for me," said Adam Stout, 22, of Marysville, who supported Bernie Sanders in 2016.

He kept checking to see if Sanders had endorsed El-Sayed yet, and when the endorsement finally came he said it built momentum in the days leading up to the election.

"I feel like he came in at the right moment," Stout said of Sanders.

Rawan Khuja, 29, of Dearborn, also supported Sanders. Now she is supporting El-Sayed in the gubernatorial primary. Asked what drew her to his candidacy she said she likes what he stands for and finds it inspiring that he is an Arab-American.

"It shows diversity in our country," she said.

At this rally, speakers focused on helping him get into the governor's mansion.

Nina Turner is president of Our Revolution, a national group that endorsed El-Sayed. She, too, urged people to get to work in the remaining time before the election.

"We're preaching to the choir, but you have got to leave here more committed to give your time, your talent or your treasure," Turner said.

El-Sayed encouraged people to put in the work. There are two days until the election, he said, and it's enough time for volunteers to make a difference.

"It's not about how much time you have, it's about how much of yourself you put in your time," El-Sayed said.

He's one of a number of candidates looking to rally supporters in Southeast Michigan ahead of the primary. Gretchen Whitmer held a rally in Detroit with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at the same time as the Sanders event on Sunday. Republican candidate for governor Bill Schuette continued his statewide "Time to Win Again" tour in Metro Detroit.

The primary election takes place Aug. 7. The Democratic candidates are El-Sayed, Thanedar and Whitmer. Running on the Republican side are Brian Calley, Patrick Colbeck, Jim Hines and Bill Schuette. The general election takes place on Nov. 6.