Vice President Kamala Harris is hosting a series of private dinners with Black men in business, politics, and culture to discuss their stories and learn how the administration's policies can support the Black community. However, some are skeptical of the initiative, claiming that it is merely a "pandering" attempt to shore up support among Black voters ahead of November's election.
Vice President Kamala Harris is embarking on an initiative billed as the "Nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour," which entails her hosting private dinners with Black men in business, politics, and culture to discuss their stories and explore how the administration's policies can support the Black community. The dinners, dubbed "Extraordinary Gentlemen" dinners, have drawn criticism from some who speculate that they are a form of "pandering" designed to win over Black voters.
Political strategist Scherie Murray expressed her skepticism about the dinners on "Fox & Friends First," stating, "I think she's pandering." Murray noted that polls indicate a decline in support for the Biden administration among Black voters and suggested that the dinners are an attempt to salvage some of that support. She believes that the administration has long taken advantage of the Black vote without delivering on its promises.
Indeed, polls ahead of November's election indicate a shift in support among the key voting group. Former President Donald Trump has managed to siphon off a considerable percentage of Biden's lead among Blacks. A NY Times/Siena College poll from March showed that Trump's support among Black voters had risen to 23% as of February 2024, compared to only 4% support one month before the 2020 election. A Wall Street Journal poll from April found that approximately 30% of Black men polled across seven swing states are backing Trump's bid to return to the White House.
Simultaneously, Biden's support among Black voters has plummeted to 63%, according to a USA Today/Suffolk University poll released in January. This represents a 30-point decline from the 92% that Biden won in the 2020 presidential election, according to Pew Research Center data.
Some analysts attribute the loss of support among Black voters to the ailing economy. However, Jamiel Shaw, who appeared on "Fox & Friends First" and lost his son to an illegal immigrant in 2008, highlights illegal immigration as a pressing issue for Black voters. Shaw emphasizes that illegal immigrants are often perceived as receiving more support and benefits than Black men, leading to a sense of neglect and frustration within the Black community.
In an attempt to boost its fundraising efforts, the Biden administration has scheduled a fundraiser in San Francisco on Thursday, with ticket prices for some attendees as high as $250,000. The high price tag of the fundraiser has also drawn criticism from some who question the administration's priorities.
The "Extraordinary Gentlemen" dinners and the upcoming fundraiser are part of the Biden administration's efforts to court Black voters ahead of November's election. However, whether these initiatives will be successful remains to be seen. Black voters have expressed frustration with the administration's performance on key issues, and Trump continues to make inroads with the demographic. The dinners and fundraiser may provide a platform for dialogue and relationship-building, but they may also be perceived as superficial gestures that fail to address the concerns of Black voters.
