CNN’s Poppy Harlow expressed surprise on Monday as she discussed the significant gains former President Donald Trump has made among black voters, based on a New York Times/Siena College poll. According to the poll, Trump is leading Biden in five out of six crucial swing states by substantial margins, including Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. He holds a double-digit lead in Nevada.
One of the most striking findings from the poll is that 22 percent of black voters now favor Trump, a substantial increase from the less than 10 percent he received in the 2020 election. This shift in black voter sentiment is unprecedented in recent history for a Republican frontrunner.
CNN analyst Natasha Alford commented on the Democratic response to these results, noting that there is a sense of urgency among Democrats to turn the situation around. She pointed out that from the beginning, many black voters were primarily focused on saving democracy rather than expressing a strong preference for Joe Biden. A year later, Biden has not succeeded in changing their perception, and issues such as declining black homeownership and rising prices have made it challenging for him to connect with this demographic.
The decline in Biden’s lead among black voters is evident when comparing the 2020 election to recent polls. An October Fox News poll showed Biden leading Trump among black voters 74-26, a significant drop from his 90 percent share of the black vote in 2020. Additionally, a May Associated Press poll indicated that only 55 percent of black voters are likely to support Biden in 2024, compared to 81 percent of Democrats. These findings highlight the evolving political landscape and the need for Democrats to address the concerns and priorities of black voters.
