Harris faces obstacles in securing support from black voters

Kamala Harris admits that the support of black men, a key constituency for Democrats, still needs to be won ahead of the November elections

Kamala Harris acknowledged she needs to step up her efforts to win over black male voters amid concerns that the once-reliable Democrat group could be turning to Donald Trump.

According to the Financial Times, Harris stressed that she never assumed that black men would vote for her “simply because I’m black,” but that she is “working to win their vote” ahead of November’s presidential election. “I think it’s really important not to operate under the assumption that black men are already committed to any party. They, like any other group of voters, have their own demands,” Harris said during an interview organized by National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), in Philadelphia, this Tuesday (17).

The vice president also took the opportunity to step up her criticism of Donald Trump’s statements, recalling his “birther” conspiracy theory about Barack Obama and his recent claims that immigrants were “stealing and eating pets.” “It’s exhausting, harmful and hateful, based on backward ideas that we should not tolerate,” Harris said.

Harris’ comments came as she and Trump are competing for support among black voters in the US. “Kamala Harris admitted today that she has failed black Americans,” Janiyah Thomas, the Trump campaign’s media director, said after the interview. “She told NABJ that after three and a half years of her failed policies, the cost of living is unsustainable and the American dream is out of reach for many young people.”

While enthusiasm among black voters has increased since Harris was nominated as Joe Biden’s running mate, there are still questions about her ability to win over black men, especially in key states like Georgia and North Carolina. A recent poll by NAACP showed that one in four black men plan to vote for Trump. Additionally, a poll by NOW/Siena revealed that 17% of all black voters support Trump, with 9% still undecided.

During the event, Harris struck a more serious tone compared to Trump’s controversial interview at the Black Journalists’ Convention in Chicago in July, where he was booed for questioning Harris’ racial identity and declaring himself “the best president for black people since Abraham Lincoln.” Trump went on to say that Harris was “an Indian through and through” and then “turned black,” sparking further backlash.

Despite a somewhat muted reception in Philadelphia, with some discreet applause, Harris was pressed by moderators from outlets such as NPR, Politico e theGriowho sought more direct answers on issues such as the war between Israel and Hamas and armed violence.

Harris also criticized Trump for spreading conspiracy theories about Haitian migrants in Ohio and said he “shouldn’t have a microphone anymore.” “This has to stop. We cannot allow someone to run America while promoting hateful rhetoric designed to divide us,” she said.

On domestic policy, Harris highlighted her proposal to cap child care costs for working families at 7 percent of household income, reaffirming her focus on alleviating the cost of living. She also mentioned that she had reached out to Trump after an assassination attempt on her life over the weekend, reinforcing that “there is no room for political violence in the United States.” The vice president also said that she fully trusts the Secret Service to ensure her safety: “I feel safe,” she concluded.