It appears the Democrats’ strategy of trying to shame black voters into supporting Vice President Kamala Harris because of her skin color and sex appears to be failing. A new poll shows that the vice president is losing serious ground among Black voters, a trend that could cost her the election.
A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted between September 29 and October 5 showed that while she will certainly win the majority of Black votes, she is falling far short of the amount President Joe Biden received in the 2020 election. Only about 78 percent of Black voters indicated that they plan to vote for Harris. This is a significant drop from Biden, who won 90 percent of the Black vote four years ago.
This already isn’t looking good for Harris.
But the numbers get even worse from there.
The poll also shows that 15 percent of Black voters plan to support former President Donald Trump at the ballot box. If this holds, it would represent a six-point increase from 2020.
Harris’ low support among Black voters could be a critical influence on the outcome of the upcoming race – especially in swing states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, where Black turnout can play a decisive role in electoral outcomes.
The numbers become even more interesting when you separate them by gender. About 83 percent of Black women indicated support for Harris, compared to 70 percent of Black men who said the same. “The slip from Mr. Biden’s 2020 numbers among Black men is striking; 70 percent said they would vote for Ms. Harris in November, down from 85 percent in 2020,” the New York Times explained.
Researchers discovered a deep frustration with the Democratic Party among younger Black voters who believe the party has failed to deliver on its promises. “Forty percent of African American voters under 30 said the Republican Party was more likely to follow through on its campaign commitments than Democrats were,” the report noted.
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LaPage Drake, a 63-year-old Black man from Cedar Hill, Texas, told the New York Times that Democrats “sweep table scraps off the table like we’re a trained dog and say, ‘This is for you.’”
He told the news outlet why he is choosing to support Trump. “Regardless of how people call him racist and stuff, he is for the country of America,” he said.
The drop-off in Black support for the Democratic candidate could possibly shift the balance in 2024, handing a victory to Trump.
Harris’ campaign, recognizing the position it is in, has tried making inroads with Black voters through outreach efforts at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and community events in key states. But this might not be enough to reverse this trend – especially with economic concerns that disproportionately affect Black voters. “Nearly three-quarters of Black voters rated the economy fair or poor,” according to the New York Times.
With less than one month until Election Day, it could be too late for Team Harris to reverse this trend. Nevertheless, the outcome of this race will hinge on whether Harris can improve her standing with Black voters over the coming weeks.
