WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris aims to capture the attention of Black men through conversations with the nation’s powerful voices.

To gain crucial support, Harris is relying on former President Barack Obama, who has started actively engaging Black men one-on-one.

During a visit to a campaign office for Harris in Pittsburgh this month, he expressed concerns that enthusiasm among Black men for her candidacy is lacking compared to his previous campaign, and this could result in lower voter turnout.

Obama candidly asked a group of Black men if they were considering not voting at all, indicating that their attitudes might be influenced by misogyny, which could negatively impact Harris’ support base amid competition from Donald Trump.

He emphasized Harris’ connection to them, reminding them that she is an ally who understands their struggles and has proposed solutions for issues such as housing, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.

“You’re making up various excuses,” Obama remarked. “It seems to me that some of this is about not wanting to accept a woman as president and finding other justifications for it.”

His remarks highlighted concerns among voters and activists that Harris has not engaged Black men enough since Biden’s exit from the race.

Black men represent a key demographic for the Democratic Party, and surveys indicate that they generally support Harris over Trump.

However, even a slight decrease in support from Black men could significantly impact election results in critical states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

Recently, Harris has increased her efforts to engage African American voters in those areas, unveiling an economic plan for Black men that builds on her past initiatives. This plan includes a commitment to legalize recreational marijuana and offering $1 million in forgivable loans for small businesses.

She has also visited various Black-owned businesses, including a coffee shop and a record store, while hosting discussions with Black men to enhance her engagement. Additionally, she plans to hold a campaign rally in Atlanta featuring performer Usher on Saturday.

“What Obama did was necessary,” stated Gregory Hannah-Jones, a 38-year-old Harris supporter from Atlanta. He described it as a “jolt” for Black male voters and noted that Harris has been a significant part of this effort.

Addressing the Historical Gap: Black Male Support

Harris has consistently worked to strengthen her support among Black men. As vice president, she hosted listening sessions focused on topics like entrepreneurship, high interest rates affecting Black borrowers, affordable housing, and reform in the criminal justice system.

She initiated an economic tour in Atlanta earlier this year to connect with Black voters, making additional stops in Charlotte and Detroit. Harris revisited Atlanta in June to address the 100 Black Men of America’s annual conference.

“This was even before anyone thought she would be the presidential nominee,” noted Kevin Lewis, a senior adviser to Harris at that time, in an interview.

The tour was brief. President Biden faced off against Trump in a debate at the end of June and dropped out of the presidential race in July. Suddenly, Harris found herself preparing for an acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention and gearing up for her own debate, all while needing to convince the nation she was ready to lead with just a few months until early voting began.

“We didn’t fully see the benefits of that initiative,” commented entrepreneur John Hope Bryant, a financial literacy author closely connected to Harris’ office. “Then the political changes occurred, and she had to pivot to her presidential campaign.”

In the weeks following the start of her campaign, Harris introduced economic proposals targeting low-income and middle-class Americans, promising tax breaks for new parents and first-time homebuyers.

However, it wasn’t until around mid-October that she introduced initiatives specifically tailored for Black men, as 23% indicated that the economy was their primary concern in a New York Times/Siena College survey of likely voters.

The actor Wendall Pierce, widely known for his role in “The Wire,” has been actively fundraising for Harris and recently campaigned alongside her at a barbershop in Milwaukee last month. He noted that Harris will encounter criticism regardless of her actions.

“Misogyny and racism are part of this campaign. You tackle that with policies, mobilizing voters, and clear messaging,” he stated.

Harris has since introduced a series of initiatives, including the expansion of apprenticeship programs and a health equity initiative aimed at addressing health issues, particularly affecting the Black community, such as sickle cell disease and diabetes.

“I think all voters are asking, ‘What have you done for me lately?’” remarked Pierce, whose recent critique of Obama’s direct engagement with Black men gained significant attention online. The two later discussed their differences.

David Lawton, 42, a lifelong Democrat from Pontiac, Michigan, who is dealing with multiple sclerosis, expressed hope that Harris would enhance the living conditions for disabled Americans by reducing healthcare costs as she promised. Yet, he remains skeptical.

Having previously voted for Biden and Harris, Lawton feels disappointed.

“I worry she might not deliver,” Lawton admitted. “I hope she proves me wrong.”

He previously supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 and says he is casting his vote for Harris over Trump this time with little enthusiasm.

“It’s a choice between two undesirables,” he explained. “Both have problematic backgrounds, but one is more damaging to working individuals than the wealthy. Trump isn’t looking to assist us; he’s focused on helping the elite.”

Trump trails but gains ground

Harris’ backing among Black voters, particularly Black men, significantly surpasses Trump’s: according to the New York Times/Siena College survey from this month, 78% of likely Black voters support Harris, while only 15% favor Trump.

Within the Black male demographic, 70% indicated they would vote for Harris, in contrast to 20% who opted for Trump, while 10% were undecided or opted not to respond. Of those registered to vote, 17% noted they were “not very” or “not at all likely” to participate in this year’s election based on the survey.

Harris’ support has declined compared to Biden, who garnered 87% of Black male voters in 2020 following four years under Trump.

Trump’s appeal among likely Black voters this election cycle seems particularly strong with younger Black men. About 20% of those aged 18 to 29 surveyed indicated they would vote for him. His support was lower among older Black voters: 15% among Black men aged 30 to 44, 14% within the 45-64 age group, and 13% among those over 65.

Although Trump has not yet released a definitive agenda for Black Americans in this election cycle, his campaign is making a focused effort to attract Harris’ supporters.

He has highlighted the historically low unemployment rates for Black Americans during his presidency (a record that now belongs to Biden) and enlisted Black conservative allies, such as Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Wesley Hunt of Texas, to promote his campaign.

“Kamala Harris is belatedly trying to court Black men after years of neglect,” stated Janiyah Thomas, Black media director for the Trump campaign, in a statement. “We are working diligently to connect with Black men, ensuring they feel acknowledged and valued. From tackling issues related to inflation and job security to concerns about safety, we are committed to advancing the work initiated by President Trump.”

Trump has frequently aimed to leverage economic grievances in his outreach to Black Americans, though his attempts have not consistently resonated well with those groups. He faced considerable backlash for stating during a debate with Biden that immigrants were taking “Black jobs.”

At a rally in Atlanta on Tuesday, Trump criticized Black voters who support Harris.

“Any African American … who votes for Kamala, needs to have their head examined,” Trump declared to the audience, “because they are really doing a disservice to themselves.”

Marshall Mitchell, a former chief of staff on Capitol Hill, now serving as pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Abington, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, pointed out that Harris is up against two contenders as she seeks support from African Americans: Trump and apathy.

“Currently, apathy is the leading opponent,” he surmised. “Harris’ success hinges not just on countering Trump but on motivating those who believe politics does not influence their lives and who are convinced government actions do not impact their everyday experiences. Engaging those individuals is crucial as the election approaches,” he emphasized.

Terrance Woodbury, co-founder of HIT Strategies, a public opinion research firm working with the Harris campaign, indicated that surveys and focus group findings reveal that some Black men remain undecided because they lack sufficient knowledge about Harris and her political platform.

“We are not engaged in damage control,’’ he stated. “They don’t harbor dislike for her. Our goal is simply to reintroduce her to them.”

Woodbury pointed out that since 2012, there has been a decline in support from men of color towards Democrats, a trend Harris aims to actively reverse.

“The primary reason behind Republicans’ improving standing is that they have made an effort,’’ he remarked. “Their policies, messaging, and candidates haven’t changed; the only factor that has shifted is their financial investment.”

‘They still haven’t done enough’

Donald Brown, a 35-year-old independent voter from Philadelphia who typically supports Democratic candidates, expressed his belief that Harris will be a more favorable option for Black men like himself. He, however, feels that the Democrats should do more for communities of color.

“Throughout my life, the Democratic Party has consistently focused its investments on white middle America,” Brown noted. “They prioritize this demographic much more than necessary and overlook Black and brown communities.”

Despite his reservations, Brown plans to vote for Harris, mentioning that her campaign has made a more notable effort to connect with Black men compared to Biden’s campaign.

“They still haven’t done enough,” Brown emphasized.

The challenges Harris faces with Black men are particularly evident in several pivotal swing states. An August poll conducted by YSL News and Suffolk University revealed that only 63% of Black men in Pennsylvania indicated plans to vote for the vice president.

Mitchell, a pastor leading a congregation of around 2,800, suggested that Harris could benefit from visiting Black churches in regions like Philadelphia and Detroit.

“She needs to communicate in a way that resonates with the Black church and community, using the right language to reassure them. The focus should not solely be on anti-Trump rhetoric,” he said. “It must be about the direction she envisions leading us in, and the Black community will respond positively.”

Recently, Harris attended a Black church in Greenville, North Carolina, where she discussed hurricane relief, misinformation, and her faith. This marked her first visit to a Black church during her campaign, and she plans to be at another one in Atlanta this upcoming Sunday.

Tony Lee, pastor of Community of Hope AME Church in Suitland, Maryland, believes that the intensified effort to engage Black men is “too little and too late.”

Nonetheless, he asserted, “Democrats are making a mistake by subscribing to this narrative so strongly.”

He explained that Black men were already feeling disengaged before Harris replaced Biden at the forefront of the Democratic ticket and expressed disappointment over the lack of progress on criminal justice reform following the 2020 death of George Floyd.

Lee expressed his conflicted feelings about supporting Harris, partly due to his frustrations surrounding the Biden administration’s stance on human rights issues in Gaza. He lamented the fact that a Palestinian representative was barred from speaking at the Democratic convention. Still, he remains committed to helping get Harris elected, hoping she might contribute to resolving the ongoing conflict in that region.

Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, noted that the Harris campaign still has an opportunity to connect with Black men by focusing on policies that have had a positive impact, such as support for Black farmers.

“It’s essential to address us on issues that matter to us,” Albright asserted. “While the Harris campaign has shown improvement compared to previous campaigns, it still falls short.”

Harris is making efforts to do just that through interviews this week with notable figures like Roland Martin, “The Shade Room,” and Charlamagne tha God.

During a recent call for Black men, Harris’s principal deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, highlighted the importance of these engagements, stating, “This isn’t merely a problem involving Black males; it represents an opportunity for them to wield significant influence over the next President of the United States.”

He added that Black men must believe that Harris’s objectives are “realistic” and not mere promises without intention for follow-through.

In Philadelphia, Brown warned that even a small number of Black men distancing themselves from Harris’s candidacy should be a concern for her campaign.

“She should be anxiously awaiting until the last vote is counted,” Brown noted.