The upcoming debate between President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump in Atlanta has sparked a fierce battle to engage Black voters. Surrogates and organizers from both parties have been holding events in Atlanta to rally support from this crucial voting bloc in a key battleground state.
Black voters, traditionally strong supporters of the Democratic Party, have expressed growing frustrations with Mr. Biden and his party. Some have even mentioned considering supporting Mr. Trump or not voting at all in the upcoming election.
While the Trump campaign is trying to capitalize on the waning support for Mr. Biden among Black voters, they are facing challenges in expanding their grass-roots Black support and adopting policy positions that resonate with a broader spectrum of Black voters. The difficulties in breaking Mr. Biden’s coalition were evident at recent events.
A Republican-led discussion at a Black-owned barbershop in Atlanta turned chaotic as panelists discussed obscure policies, cultural grievances, and made ahistorical claims about Black Americans. One panelist referred to the trans-Atlantic slave trade as an “experience” and criticized older generations of Black voters for creating divisive narratives.
Another panelist suggested that Republicans could appeal to Black voters by looking beyond Trump to another candidate in the next presidential election. By the end of the session, the barbershop owner, Rocky Jones, was undecided on whom to support in the upcoming election, emphasizing the importance of unity and diversity.
Prominent Black Trump campaign surrogates attended the event, touting Trump’s record on Black unemployment and making promises to lower gas prices if re-elected. However, Trump’s claim of increased support from Black and Latino voters was condemned as racist by Biden’s campaign.
Representatives for Mr. Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, Democrats have dispatched numerous Black surrogates to Atlanta for events leading up to the debate. Although these events are not explicitly targeting Black voters, they are led by local Black officials and community leaders.
Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta and senior adviser to Mr. Biden’s campaign, highlighted Biden’s track record of delivering for Black communities. However, rallying Black voters in battleground states like Georgia remains a challenging task, especially considering the narrow margin by which Biden won the state in 2020.
The level of turnout among Black voters could sway the election, a fact not lost on Republicans. Organizers from the Trump campaign are focused on increasing support among Black men, who have shown more openness to conservative ideas in polls and focus groups.
“If there’s an indictment of how the party — the Republican Party — has run itself the last 60 years, it’s that it never took the time to go engage Black voters and say there is another way to listen to us,” said Rep. Byron Donalds at a recent event in an Atlanta suburb.
