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Former Vice President Joe Biden is still at the top of the list among Democratic candidates vying for the party’s presidential nomination and it appears he will remain there for the time being. The upcoming impeachment trial will remove five of his opponents from the campaign trail since they serve in the Senate. This means Biden and Mayor Pete Buttigieg will have Iowa and New Hampshire all to themselves.

But there is a key area in which Biden has consistently dominated his rivals: Black voters. The former vice president enjoys overwhelming support from the black community, and it is one of the primary reasons why he retains his lead. Today, The Washington Post released the results of a poll conducted with Ipsos revealing that Biden is far ahead of his competitors when it comes to black support. But the results also indicate something about the black community that is often overlooked.

The survey showed that a whopping 48% of black voters support Biden over any other Democratic candidate. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) came in 2nd place with 20%. Sen. Elizabeth Warren managed to get 9% support. It’s worth pointing out that Sander did lead Biden among black voters under the age of 35. But given the fact that younger voters are more favorable towards socialism nowadays, this isn’t a shocker.

The study reaffirms what we already knew: Black voters favor Biden over the rest of the Democratic field. But there is another component to this story that is worth discussing. What makes the former vice president different from the others who are leading in the polls? It’s the fact that Biden is a moderate, not a far-left progressive like Sanders and Warren. In light of this, it seems fair to conclude that the black community has not lurched as far to the left as the rest of the party, who subscribe to the Marxist agenda of Democrats like Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the rest of the squad.

Put simply, black Americans are Democrats, but they are not socialists.

There are several reasons why blacks might choose Biden. His association with former President Barack Obama, who would also be considered a moderate now, certainly helps. But the fact that he still seems to be the most electable and most likely to give Trump a run for his money also plays a part. But the poll also reveals that the majority (61%) of black voters would prefer a president that would “generally continue President Obama’s policies.” Only 21% actually wished for a president that would govern to the left of Obama.

It is a common misconception that black voters tend to be far to the left. They are often accused of prioritizing “free stuff” over most other issues despite the fact that data shows something different: Black voters aren’t more concerned with “free stuff” than anyone else. From a certain perspective, the results of this poll are encouraging — especially for those who wish to see the Republican Party earn more black votes. It confirms the fact that most black voters have not climbed on board the socialist train. Indeed, the majority of black Americans do have several values in common with conservatives. 

Yes, the black community might be ridin’ with Biden for the time being. But the fact that they aren’t choosing a socialist candidate reveals that they aren’t so far to the left that a conservative party that actually shows it wants their votes wouldn’t stand a chance. The GOP will have quite the challenge if it wants to earn more black support, but it can be done.

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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