As President Biden’s reelection campaign faces a dip in support from Black voters, the campaign has launched a targeted effort to regain their backing in two swing states. The move comes after former President Trump made significant gains among Black voters, causing concern among Democratic strategists and political pundits.
The centerpiece of the effort is an ad titled “Compete,” which will run in Georgia and North Carolina. The ad features Patrick Brown, a Black farmer from North Carolina, praising Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their investments in Black farming communities. Brown highlights the administration’s efforts to provide access to land, broadband, capital, and infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of having a president who listens to the needs of the Black community.
Recent polls indicate a decline in Black voter support for Biden compared to the 2020 election. According to a CNN poll, only 73% of Black voters currently favor Biden, compared to the 92% he received in the last election. The same poll shows a significant increase in support for Trump among Black voters, with 23% favoring the former president, up from 8% in 2020. Another New York Times poll echoes these findings, reporting 22% support for Trump among Black voters.
Maya King and Lisa Lerer of the New York Times argue that Black voters are increasingly disconnected from the Democratic Party and express frustration with Biden’s perceived inaction on their political priorities. MSNBC host and Black activist Al Sharpton also warns of a lack of enthusiasm among young Black voters, urging the Biden campaign to build a ground game movement from the bottom-up.
Democratic strategists have raised concerns about Black voters questioning their loyalty to the Democrat Party. Marcurius Byrd, founder of Young Democrats of the Central Midlands in South Carolina, believes that the party should move past solely focusing on racial issues and address the struggles faced by Black Americans, such as housing and food insecurity. McKenzie Watson, an advocate for people with disabilities, suggests that the party should prioritize fixing domestic issues before engaging in foreign affairs.
Biden campaign manager Quentin Fulks defends the administration’s record, emphasizing their investments in infrastructure, internet access, healthcare, and pathways to land ownership for Black Americans and rural communities. Fulks argues that a second term for Biden and Harris would build on their accomplishments and continue to address the issues that matter most to the Black community.
The Biden campaign has not directly responded to inquiries about the targeted effort and its relation to declining poll numbers among Black voters. As the 2024 campaign unfolds, the campaign’s focus on regaining support from this crucial voting bloc will be closely watched.
