Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to become the first woman of color to lead a major party’s presidential ticket amid signs support from Black voters is rebounding since President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid. The historic nomination follows a series of controversial comments from former President Donald Trump about Harris’ racial identity, which could potentially impact his efforts to peel off support from Black voters. At the National Association of Black Journalists convention on Wednesday, Trump baselessly questioned Harris’ background during an interview. “She was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black,” Trump said.Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants to the U.S., called the comments divisive and disrespectful. “The American people deserve better,” Harris said. New polls suggest Harris is expanding support with Black voters that had been eroding with Biden at the top of the ticket. In a public memo, Harris’ campaign argues that her advantages with Black voters will give her a boost in key Sun Belt states like North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia.”It has been a complete sea change,” said Howard University Department of Political Science Professor Clarence Lusane. An Associated Press – NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found 73% of Black adults were either “very” or “somewhat satisfied” with Harris as the Democratic nominee, compared to 51% who said the same about Biden in an earlier survey released last month. A new Howard University poll of Black voters from the end of July found more than 90 % intend to vote for Harris, a big jump compared to the 59% who said they planned to vote for Biden in their March survey. “Symbolism does have an import but you just can’t rely on that,” Lusane said. “It’s going to be important that Harris articulates an agenda that speaks to the black community, particularly Black men.” The Howard poll released last spring found more Black men were open to voting for Trump at 22 % compared to their female counterparts at 10 %.Trump’s message to Black voters has largely focused on the economy and immigration. On Wednesday, he said migrants are “taking Black jobs” and that “young black people don’t have the American dream.” “Inflation is a disaster and it is destroying our country and the Black community,” Trump said. Speaking to a historically Black sorority on Wednesday evening, Harris detailed efforts to bring down the cost of living like banning hidden fees, limiting rent increases and capping prescription drug costs. She also pledged to expand and protect “fundamental freedoms” from voting rights to abortion rights. “At this moment, our fundamental freedoms are on the ballot and so is our democracy,” Harris said.
Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to become the first woman of color to lead a major party’s presidential ticket amid signs support from Black voters is rebounding since President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid.
The historic nomination follows a series of controversial comments from former President Donald Trump about Harris’ racial identity, which could potentially impact his efforts to peel off support from Black voters.
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At the National Association of Black Journalists convention on Wednesday, Trump baselessly questioned Harris’ background during an interview.
“She was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black,” Trump said.
Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants to the U.S., called the comments divisive and disrespectful.
“The American people deserve better,” Harris said.
New polls suggest Harris is expanding support with Black voters that had been eroding with Biden at the top of the ticket. In a public memo, Harris’ campaign argues that her advantages with Black voters will give her a boost in key Sun Belt states like North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia.
“It has been a complete sea change,” said Howard University Department of Political Science Professor Clarence Lusane.
An Associated Press – NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found 73% of Black adults were either “very” or “somewhat satisfied” with Harris as the Democratic nominee, compared to 51% who said the same about Biden in an earlier survey released last month.
A new Howard University poll of Black voters from the end of July found more than 90 % intend to vote for Harris, a big jump compared to the 59% who said they planned to vote for Biden in their March survey.
“Symbolism does have an import but you just can’t rely on that,” Lusane said. “It’s going to be important that Harris articulates an agenda that speaks to the black community, particularly Black men.”
The Howard poll released last spring found more Black men were open to voting for Trump at 22 % compared to their female counterparts at 10 %.
Trump’s message to Black voters has largely focused on the economy and immigration. On Wednesday, he said migrants are “taking Black jobs” and that “young black people don’t have the American dream.”
“Inflation is a disaster and it is destroying our country and the Black community,” Trump said.
Speaking to a historically Black sorority on Wednesday evening, Harris detailed efforts to bring down the cost of living like banning hidden fees, limiting rent increases and capping prescription drug costs. She also pledged to expand and protect “fundamental freedoms” from voting rights to abortion rights.
“At this moment, our fundamental freedoms are on the ballot and so is our democracy,” Harris said.
