JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the final days of the election season, both the Democratic and Republican parties are making their final appeals to a specific voting bloc: Black voters.
This comes as a new survey from the NAACP shows a new trend in Black voters.
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The survey from the NAACP shows Harris gaining ground among Black men, jumping from 51 percent to 59 percent.
The same poll also shows the likelihood of Black men under 50 voting for Trump dropping from 27 percent to 21 percent.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said the concerns of the democratic party losing support from Black men are overblown.
“It’s a nonsensical conversation. There are erosions across all racial groups with males because individuals don’t feel heard, don’t feel their input is valued, don’t feel like their vote counts. It’s our job to engage,” Johnson said.
Kiaira Nixon with the Florida Democratic Coordinated Campaign said Vice President Harris is going into communities, and talking about the issues.
“Thus far, you have Kamala Harris where she’s doing her tour, she’s going into Black communities, speaking at barber shops. She’s just done a Black agenda for men, talking about entrepreneurship, expanding healthcare,” she said.
Overall, 73 percent of Black voters said they are voting for Harris. However, it’s still a drop in support compared to the 90 percent President Joe Biden had in 2020, the 89 percent of support for Secretary Hillary Clinton in 2016, and the 95 percent President Barack Obama had in 2008 and 2012.
Republican City Councilman Terrance Freeman believes the reason is tied to the quality of life.
“When you particularly talk about Black families, when we talk about why do we think that little by little, they’re transitioning over, I think it’s because over these last four years, little by little they’re seeing the life and the quality of life they were living deteriorate and now they’re saying we need to explore other options,” Freeman said.
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In these last few months, many Black voters said Trump’s recent comments surrounding race are offensive.
He’s made false claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets, claimed undocumented immigrants are taking so-called “Black jobs” and questioned Kamala Harris’ Black identity.
Freeman said he chooses to focus on the policies.
“I understand it’s a sensitive thing here. I’m a father of five, and I have daughters as well. I often reflect and share with them that there are times that you may not agree with the personality but you can’t argue with the policies,” said Freeman.
Retired political science professor Marcella Washington believes the drop in support for Harris is more of a generational divide among Black Americans… and the way people now get their information.
“I think the internet and social media has made it much easier for people to get into their individual silos, in general everywhere. But especially true for where we are with African Americans,” Washington said.
With just a few days until Election Day, both parties are still working to reach Black voters.
“We’re still in the period of persuasion and getting people to the ballot at this time. We’re talking about generationally, the advancements that we have been able to make in the Democratic Party. Because we know, without these voters, we would not be able to influence certain policies,” Nixon said.
Washington said addressing the issues of this key voting bloc, is something both parties need to work on.
“The Republicans and the Democrats are approaching it from different avenues. There’s some credence to the fact that the Democratic Party has taken Black votes for granted, but there’s also a tremendous credence that the Republican party seems not to have the answer, either,” she said.
The NAACP said misinformation is one of the biggest challenges of getting Black voters to the polls.
Two organizations aimed at getting Black voters to the polls to support Harris are Win with Black Women and Win with Black Men.
The groups have raised millions of dollars since the Vice President took over the top of the ticket back in July.