Staff Reports
Barack Obama seems to have finally discovered that the emperor wears no clothes—specifically, he’s cast his eyes upon the struggling candidacy of Kamala Harris. The former President recently took a moment to address supporters, and it was clear that panic has begun to creep into the Democratic camp. Instead of issuing a glowing endorsement, he felt compelled to warn that Harris is losing her footing among black voters, particularly “the brothers.” It turns out that there’s more to discuss than the state of the nation; the election is shaping up to be a tough sell for Harris.
According to a recent Pew Research poll, only 84 percent of black voters are willing to back Harris, while a stunning 13 percent would prefer to cast their ballot for Donald Trump. That’s down a whopping eight points from Joe Biden’s 92 percent in 2020—something that must be sending shivers down Democratic spines. When it comes to black men, Harris drops further, with just 80 percent support. In a surprising twist of fate, an NAACP poll indicated that one in four black voters under 50 are flirting with Trump. The tide might be turning, and the Democrats are not accustomed to such turbulence in their voter base.
🚨 BREAKING: BARACK OBAMA SOUNDS THE ALARM on lower black – and black male – enthusiasm for Kamala Harris.
"We have not yet seen the same kinds of energy […] That [lower enthusiasm] seems to be more pronounced with the brothers."pic.twitter.com/IPp7Y9nAHf
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 10, 2024
Obama attempted to rally the troops in Pittsburgh, claiming that the energy and turnout from certain communities just isn’t what it used to be back when he was running for office. He hesitated to level with the Harris supporters when he noted that the inertia appears particularly evident among black men. In an almost paternalistic tone, he urged them to recognize the significance of having a candidate who, as he describes it, “understands the struggles and pain” associated with their upbringing. The irony, of course, is rich given the Democrats’ long history of taking those votes for granted.
Black voters are beginning to flirt with the Republican Party, with their share of the vote rising from 9 percent in 2018 to 13 percent in 2022. This realignment is especially noteworthy, considering it has occurred in the wake of the Trump era, where “America First” has seemingly resonated more than the Democratic promises that often end up as empty rhetoric. Obama’s warnings underscore a deeper issue for Democrats: if they can’t keep their own base, they’re in bigger trouble than just losing an election.
In an odd twist of priorities, Obama also challenged Trump’s claims regarding the impact of illegal immigration on African American communities, arguing that it’s a scapegoat tactic. He asserts that Trump and other Republicans are merely shifting blame instead of offering real solutions to pressing issues like housing and healthcare. However, polling data shows that many Americans are deeply opposed to uncontrolled immigration, especially when their own families struggle to make ends meet. Clearly, Obama’s insistence on playing defense for an increasingly perplexed Harris bears the hallmarks of a party in disarray as they aim to cling to a demographic seeing diminishing returns.
