Vice President Kamala Harris is grappling with a worrying decline in polling among Black and Hispanic men as the 2024 election looms closer.
The VP's campaign is working hard to address this issue by engaging in identity politics and enlisting well-known figures such as Magic Johnson and Barack Obama to reach these specific voter groups and to try to erase what, to them, is a devastating lack of support, as the Washington Examiner reports.
Harris's campaign is notably troubled by her current polling performance among minority men, which falls short of President Joe Biden's 2020 numbers.
This has led to intense efforts to regain support in key states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, where Harris's popularity among Black men is under particular scrutiny. In addition, similar challenges loom in Arizona and Nevada, where her appeal to Hispanic men appears to be faltering.
In cities such as Detroit and Philadelphia, the dwindling enthusiasm from Black men is a source of significant concern. The campaign's challenges do not end there; Hispanic men seem split evenly between Harris and former President Donald Trump, posing another hurdle for her team.
To counter these trends, Harris’s campaign is increasingly relying on high-profile endorsements. NBA legend Magic Johnson, for instance, attended a recent event in Flint, Michigan, in an effort to boost Harris's appeal among Black men.
Former President Barack Obama has also been called upon to lend his support. He recently addressed audiences in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to encourage Black men to support Harris in the forthcoming election.
During his appearance, Obama suggested that some Black men's reluctance to support Harris might stem from discomfort with the idea of a female president. He challenged what he perceived as inadequate reasons for declining support, stating, "You're coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, I’ve got a problem with that."
He further suggested that women have long been supportive figures in the lives of Black men, questioning any decision not to back Harris as akin to "putting women down." Obama's comments are a strategic part of Harris's attempt to sway minority male voters.
This approach, however, has stirred analysis that Harris’s campaign may be relying too heavily on shaming tactics over substantive policy proposals.
As the election year progresses, these strategies may invite criticism from different factions, complicating Harris’s campaign efforts. The emphasis on identity politics coupled with heavyweight celebrity endorsements signifies a distinct plan that could double-edged.
For many observers, Harris’s struggle to replicate Biden’s past success among minority men reflects deeper challenges within the Democratic Party's strategy. The drive to energize voter turnout is critical for Harris as Republicans, led by Trump, aim to capitalize on these gaps.
