Joe Biden's campaign is tackling declining support among Black and Latino voters

May 30, 2024 - 07:44
Joe Biden's campaign is tackling declining support among Black and Latino voters

Ground Operations and Early Investments

  1. Infrastructure and Offices: The campaign has established 150 offices in battleground states, focusing on Black and Latino neighborhoods.
  2. Targeted Advertising: Biden's team has invested heavily in paid advertising, particularly through Black and Latino media. Spanish-language ads and culturally specific radio spots have been crucial components.
  3. Community Engagement: The campaign emphasizes in-person outreach at local events like bingo halls, food drives, and farmers markets.

Key Messages and Surrogates

  1. Economic Achievements: Highlighting low Black unemployment and increased Black wealth, alongside student loan forgiveness.
  2. High-Profile Visits: Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other surrogates make targeted visits to minority communities. These stops include small businesses and churches, focusing on key battleground states.
  3. Relational Organizing: Utilizing volunteers' personal networks to spread campaign messages through memes and videos, aiming to reach voters directly and effectively.

Battling Negative Perceptions

  1. Addressing Economic Concerns: Campaign officials acknowledge the importance of addressing voters' economic frustrations. Many Black and Latino voters are concerned about the economy under Biden, with significant percentages feeling their family income is lagging behind the cost of living.
  2. Countering Trump’s Narrative: The campaign is pushing back against Trump’s claims of increasing minority support, arguing that his outreach lacks substantive investment and relies on rhetoric rather than concrete action.

Latino Voter Outreach

  1. Spanish-Language Media: Biden’s campaign has spent $25 million on Hispanic media, including Spanish-language radio and TV ads tailored to specific Latino communities.
  2. Community Programs: Programs targeting Latino voters, such as those focusing on small businesses and healthcare, aim to connect with voters on issues directly affecting them.
  3. Collaborations: Partnering with organizations like Somos Votantes, which plans to spend $57 million on Latino voter turnout for Biden.

Polling and Predictions

  1. Poll Trends: Despite challenges, Biden's team remains optimistic. Polls show Biden's approval among Black and Latino voters is down compared to 2020, but they believe early investments and sustained outreach will improve these numbers.
  2. Strategic Optimism: Campaign officials predict that voter support will increase closer to the election, especially after key events like the Democratic National Convention and as more voters become aware of Biden's policies.

Challenges Ahead

  1. Economic Discontent: Many minority voters express dissatisfaction with the current economic situation, which Trump’s campaign is exploiting.
  2. Engagement and Enthusiasm: The campaign faces the task of re-engaging voters who are currently less enthusiastic about Biden compared to previous elections.

In summary, Biden's campaign is working diligently to maintain and bolster support among Black and Latino voters through targeted investments, strategic outreach, and a focus on economic and community-specific issues. They aim to counter Trump's narrative and highlight Biden's achievements to ensure strong voter turnout in November.