Staff Reports
President Joe Biden, in a speech before a group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, made some bold promises to the black community if he is granted a second term. He vowed to sign into law various acts including the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, and restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. He even bragged about his administration’s diversity and listed off accomplishments he claimed benefited black voters. Biden warned of dire consequences if his opponent, Donald Trump, were to return to power, citing voter and election suppression, attacks on reproductive freedom, affirmative action, and diversity, as well as embracing political violence.
Biden makes case for second term at Al Sharpton-hosted event https://t.co/EVVyyBup64 https://t.co/EVVyyBup64
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 12, 2024
Biden’s speech was an attempt to rally support from the black community as polling indicates his popularity among black and Latino voters has suffered since taking office. He depicted himself as the champion of black Americans, touting achievements such as increasing black wealth and addressing bias in home appraisals. Despite the Biden administration’s proposal to ban menthol cigarettes, a measure opposed by Sharpton due to potential dangerous interactions with law enforcement, this issue was conspicuously absent from their discussion.
Meanwhile, President Biden’s opponent, Donald Trump, is also making efforts to court black voters, with polls suggesting he has been making headway in this pursuit. A Wall Street Journal poll showed that support for Trump among black men had doubled since 2020.
Biden’s speech was a thinly-veiled attempt to pander to the black community, making grand promises and highlighting his perceived accomplishments while demonizing his opponent. However, despite his efforts, support for his administration among black and Latino voters appears to be waning, and his opponent, Donald Trump, is gaining ground in wooing black voters.
