Sherman Younger, a registered voter from Chatham, Virginia, voted for Joe Biden in 2020 but is now undecided about supporting Vice President Kamala Harris. Younger is one of the undecided voters who hold significant sway in the upcoming presidential election as Harris and former President Donald Trump vie for their support. He cited the high cost of living as a concern and mentioned that Harris is struggling to win over black male voters due to cultural barriers.
Younger commutes daily to Greensboro, North Carolina, where Harris held a campaign rally recently. He noticed that the majority of rallygoers were women, highlighting a gender gap in support for Harris.
Harris recognizes the challenge with black men and admitted during an interview that she must do more to earn their support. Recent polling data from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) showed that 63 percent of black voters support Harris while 13 percent favor Trump.
The disparity in support becomes particularly significant when it comes to gender. Sixty-seven percent of black women back Harris compared to only 49 percent among black men under 50, with Trump’s favorability jumping to 26 percent.
Black voters have historically overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party. However, some African American men like Mark Martin and Al Smith expressed their dissatisfaction with national politicians’ performance and are considering voting for Trump instead.
Dante White supports Harris because he believes she will be a good president who prioritizes healthcare and food stamps. The NAACP poll revealed that economic concerns were important for 40 percent of respondents while protecting rights and freedoms mattered most to 53 percent.
Jerome plans to vote for Trump due to his focus on improving the economy. He believes that living costs in Washington D.C. are outrageous and supports Trump’s commitment to keeping the dollar strong against other currencies.
The race between Harris and Trump remains tight according to national and swing-state polls less than six weeks before the election. The Harris campaign has been targeting ads towards younger men during major league baseball games, college football broadcasts, soccer matches across key battleground states as part of its efforts to increase turnout among black and Latino men.
Democratic strategist Christopher Bruce emphasized the need for Harris to present her policies effectively in order resonate with black male voters. Republican strategist Brian Seitchik noted that there is a sizable gender gap this cycle with women leaning toward Harris while men favoring Trump.
