President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have launched a new initiative aimed at reinvigorating Black voters, as recent polls show a decrease in support for Biden among African American voters.
The “Black Voters for Biden-Harris” campaign was kicked off in Philadelphia at Girard College, a predominantly black college preparatory school. The program is designed to engage and mobilize African American voters, who played a crucial role in electing Biden and Harris in 2020.
Recent polls from the Pew Research Center indicate that while Black voters still largely support Biden over former President Donald Trump, there has been a decline in enthusiasm. Nearly 50% of those polled said they would replace Biden with another candidate if given the chance.
Experts suggest that the decreased enthusiasm among Black voters can be attributed to concerns over inflation, civil rights issues, and frustration with Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza. Nadia Brown, a professor at Georgetown University, points out that economic factors, Biden’s stance on Israel, and perceived rollbacks of civil rights under his administration are contributing to the waning support.
The Biden campaign is making efforts to address these concerns and earn the support of Black voters. They have been actively engaging with the community through events like commencement addresses at historically Black colleges and economic opportunity tours. However, the campaign faces criticism from the Trump camp, which accuses Biden of gaslighting Black voters and claims they were better off under the previous administration.
As the 2022 midterm elections approach, the Biden-Harris campaign is working to regain the trust and support of Black voters, who remain a critical voting bloc for Democratic candidates.