President Joe Biden’s most loyal voting bloc might not be quite as loyal when 2024 rolls around. Black voters, who were instrumental in helping Biden win the Democratic primaries during the 2020 campaign, have soured on the president after his over two years in office according to a recent survey. It appears his adventures with Corn Pop have finally caught up to him.
A recent poll conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post has revealed a significant decline in support for Biden among black Americans. The survey indicated that only 52% of black respondents approved of Biden’s performance as president, a sharp decline from the 82 percent approval rating he enjoyed when he took office in 2021.
This 30-point drop in support represents the lowest point of Biden’s presidency and comes as he prepares for his reelection campaign. The survey also highlighted an increase in support for former President Donald Trump among black Americans, with 27 percent of respondents indicating a likelihood of voting for him or leaning toward him, more than double the support he received in the 2020 election.
In addition to waning support from black Americans, President Biden’s approval ratings among Hispanics have also experienced a decline. Only 40 percent of Hispanics expressed approval of Biden’s performance, and 43 percent stated they would probably or definitely support Trump in a rematch or lean toward him.
This figure is only 11 points higher than the 32 percent of the Hispanic vote Trump received in the previous election. Among white Americans, Biden’s approval rating was even lower, with just 32 percent expressing approval. The president also faces challenges in maintaining support from other key demographics, including women and independents, who gave approval ratings of 39 percent and 30 percent respectively. Furthermore, Biden’s declining support extends to moderates, as only 40 percent of this group currently approves of his performance, and about half of them would choose Trump over Biden in a rematch.
These findings present a sobering reality for President Biden as he looks forward to 2024. While he is expected to secure the nomination, his declining support among black Americans, Hispanics, and other crucial demographics raises concerns about his ability to maintain a broad base of support. While his opponents in the race, Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are seen as long-shots, Biden will nevertheless have to address these challenges to secure a second term in office.
It isn’t too difficult to understand why black folks are not as excited about Biden as they were previously. One of the reasons for President Biden’s decline in support among black Americans can be attributed to the perception that he has prioritized catering to other groups while not adequately addressing the concerns and needs of the black community.
Critics argue that Biden’s policy focus has been on issues like immigration reform and climate change, neither of which directly resonate with the specific challenges faced by black Americans. The president and his merry band of Democrats even threw a bone to the Asian community by passing a hate crime bill specifically for this demographic. For black folks?
Nada.
This lack of substantial action on issues such as criminal justice reform, economic inequality, and systemic racism has likely led to a sense of disappointment and disillusionment among some black voters. This is because Biden did what most Democrats do: Make soaring promises on the campaign trail only to forget everything he said once the election was over. Although in Biden’s case, he probably really did forget.
Furthermore, concerns about the state of the economy and rising inflation have also contributed to the decline in support for President Biden among black Americans. While the economy initially showed signs of recovery after the pandemic, recent inflationary pressures and rising prices of essential goods and services have affected households across the country, including black communities.
Many individuals feel that the Biden administration has not done enough to address these economic challenges effectively, leading to doubts about the president’s ability to provide tangible benefits and improvements in the lives of black Americans. The combination of perceived neglect in addressing specific issues facing the black community and economic concerns has contributed to the decline in support for President Biden among black voters.
Of course, this does not necessarily mean more black Americans will be willing to give the eventual Republican nominee a shot. However, from where I sit, Trump has a much better chance at getting more black votes than Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or any other contender. Either way, if these results are accurate, Biden will have to work hard to regain the trust of millions of black Americans, or they might just sit out the next election.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member