Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government by Paul Bedard, Washington Secrets Columnist
Polls showing consistent black voter support for President Trump at levels higher than those of previous Republican candidates may cost Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden the election. Biden’s backing from this key voting group is less than it was for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama.
In surveys of black voters, pollster John Zogby pegged support for Trump from black voters at 14%. For Biden, he said that support from black voters was between 77% and 81%.
“The numbers from likely black voters are nowhere near where they should be as they fall well below 90%,” he said in his new report in Main St. – K St. IntelligenSEER.
He added, “This alone could potentially cost Biden the election.”
And in a poll for Newsmax, Zogby said, “In 2008 and 2012, Barack Obama won 96% and 93% of the black vote. Hillary Clinton’s 89% to Trump’s 9% victory among blacks was not enough to win the presidency.”
He added, “If Trump’s 14% total holds into November, this could hurt the Democratic nominee again in must-win in critical Rust Belt, along with Minnesota, Georgia, and Texas, which Biden hopes to win.”
The black vote has been in focus since Trump was elected. Since entering the White House, the president emphasized programs targeting black people, boosted employment for African Americans, and featured several black speakers at the Republican National Convention.
Some White House insiders said that if Trump can get 11% or more of the black vote, he will win the November election.
Several other pollsters have found sustained support for Trump among black voters at levels higher than recent Republicans have enjoyed.
Zogby found unusual pockets of support from black voters for Trump, such as young African Americans. And the addition of California Sen. Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket hasn’t helped Biden.
“The president does especially well among young blacks — 18-24-year-olds — with 38% to Biden’s 61%. When the names of the vice-presidential nominees are added, the needle hardly moves at all,” he said.
“If Biden’s support from blacks remains this low, that alone could cost the election,” according to Zogby’s report in Main St. – K St. IntelligenSEER.