Staff Reports
Former President Barack Obama’s attempts to revitalize support for Vice President Kamala Harris among Black voters are producing more of a wheeze than a rallying cry. Among those disenchanted is Marcus Jean-Francois, a Haitian American who has traded his allegiance from Obama to Trump. After two terms of the former president, Jean-Francois has had enough of the rising crime rates and ballooning prices accompanying Democratic policies. His verdict? Life was simply better during Trump’s presidency.
The latest effort by Obama to whip up enthusiasm among Black voters harkens back to the stellar turnouts in 2008, when he attracted a staggering 93% of the Black vote. Fast forward to today, and polling suggests a significant decline in support for Harris among this demographic, with numbers markedly lower than Biden’s in 2020. It’s hard to ignore the irony here: Obama’s once-powerful charm seems to have lost its luster in a political landscape where many are eager for change, rather than nostalgia.
No longer the untouchable orator able to move the masses, Obama is now stumbling to rekindle the fervor he once enjoyed. Young voters, who were practically children during his administration, find their memories of him overshadowed by the considerable successes of Trump’s presidency. With record-low Black unemployment and significant achievements in criminal justice reform under Trump’s belt, the current administration’s values don’t seem quite so appealing.
The Haitian American, who arrived in the United States more than two decades ago, voted twice for Mr. Obama. https://t.co/DNZzgRU3nn
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 25, 2024
Interestingly, the contrast between Obama and Trump goes beyond policies—there’s also the perception of elitism. While Trump, a billionaire businessman, can seem more relatable than Obama, who rubs shoulders with Hollywood celebrities and resides in three mansions, some voters see a yawning chasm that can’t be bridged by mere party loyalty. This growing detachment from identity politics among Black voters has led individuals like Bruce LaVell to note a shift: they want a capable leader who can simply “do the damn job.”
The numbers tell a compelling story, with polls hinting that Trump could capture more support from Black voters than any Republican since Nixon, if not more. An October poll shows that 15% of Black voters, including a whopping 20% of Black men, are leaning toward Trump, doubling his 2020 performance. Young Black males are particularly shifting their gears, with a University of Chicago poll noting an astounding 26% of those aged 18 to 40 planning to vote for him. Georgia, a battleground state with 30% of its electorate comprising Black Americans, will play a decisive role in determining the victor in 2024.
Against this backdrop, Nathaniel Duncan stands out as a voice clinging to the past, still believing in Obama’s influence among Black voters. However, as more young folks question what Obama actually achieved during his presidency, the tide may be changing faster than anyone expected. While Obama gallivants between Atlanta and Detroit with rock icons to rally support, younger Black voters are dismissing his well-penned critiques, realizing that for many, the dawn of the Trump era seemed to shine a little brighter than the darkness left by Obama’s policies.
