A recent NAACP poll suggests that Vice President Kamala Harris might have an issue with black voters.
Black Americans’ disillusionment with the Democratic Party may have serious implications for Harris in November. This data indicates that Harris could suffer from serious consequences if the black American population becomes more disillusioned.
According to the new NAACP survey, which interviewed 1,000 registered Black voters across the U.S. from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12, most Black voters, 63%, plan to support Harris, compared with 13% for Trump.
But 26% of Black men under 50 years old said they supported Trump, versus 49% who backed Harris. For Black men above 50, 77% said they supported Harris.
Sixty-seven percent of Black women said they supported Harris, while 8% said they supported Trump.
According to the survey, the top three issues that concern Black voters are crime, the economy, and public safety. The cost of groceries, housing, and utilities was also listed as one of the most pressing concerns for Black men under 50. Comparatively, 75% of Black women of all ages are concerned about economic issues.
Black males, particularly those of younger age, are more at risk.
Despite the enthusiasm, gender and generational disparities emerge as potential challenges for Harris.
Only 66% of men the same age feel the same.
Harris’s support among younger Blacks (aged 18 to 49) has fallen even more. Just 56 percent support her.
According to a NAACP poll, 40% of respondents stated that economic concerns were the top priority for their elected officials. While 53 percent said that protecting their rights and liberties is the main concern,
The Harris/Walz campaign seems to understand what they have to do to win black voters over and has taken steps to reach them. Recently, the vice president spoke with the National Association for Black Journalists.
The interview took a softball approach, with the moderators avoiding asking her difficult questions and allowing her to repeat her prepared talking points about the problems faced by black voters. It appeared that she admitted that more would have to be done to make black voters feel comfortable voting for her.
“I think it’s very important to not operate from the assumption that Black men are in anybody’s pocket. Black men are like any other voting group—you’ve gotta earn their vote. So, I’m workin’ to earn the vote. Not assuming I’m going to have it because I am Black.”
A slight drop in black voter support could cost her the election. It’s been a long time coming if it happens.
Black voters are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Democratic Party. The party has ignored their concerns for decades and taken them for granted.
This provides an opportunity for former President Donald Trump, who is making a concerted effort to peel off black voters from Harris. The Republican Party as a whole would be wise to emulate their presidential candidate going forward. If the GOP wants a bigger tent, now is the time to act on it.
