Former President Donald Trump took a shot at Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday over a surprising development in this election: Harris is struggling with Black voters.
The Center Square Voter’s Voice poll found that Harris has 79% support among likely Black voters compared to Trump’s 16%.
“Kamala’s support is collapsing with Black voters,” Trump said in a statement.
Harris’ numbers are significantly lower than previous Democratic candidates.
As The Center Square previously reported, former President Barack Obama received 95% of the Black vote in 2008. Hillary Clinton received roughly 91% support in 2016. President Joe Biden received 92% in 2020.
With less than 3 weeks to go, closing that gap will be difficult.
“Inflation is hell,” Trump continued. “Worse, their cities are being used as illegal alien dumping grounds. If Kamala gets 4 more years, the Black Community loses its political power forever because their neighborhoods will all be majority migrant.”
The issue was thrust to the forefront here in the home stretch of the campaign in part because of the grim polling numbers for Harris’ campaign but also because Obama lectured black voters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last week, black men in particular, accusing them of sexism.
“You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, I’ve got a problem with that because, because, part of it makes me think, I’m speaking to men directly, part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman that’s president,” Obama told attendees. “And you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for it.”
Obama’s comments drew pushback and criticism, and since then Harris has focused more messaging on crafting policies for Black men.
“I don’t assume to have the demographic of any demographic locked down,” Harris told the media when asked about Obama’s comments. “I have to earn their vote…”
