The Biden-Harris reelection campaign has unleashed a new television ad blitz squarely aimed at Black voters in key battleground states. The ads, titled “Back” and “Price,” feature President Biden directly addressing Black Americans and warning of the “disaster” a second Trump term would bring their community.
“As bad as Trump was, his economy was worse, and Black America felt it the most,” Biden says in the spots. “He cut health insurance while giving tax breaks to the wealthy and big business. He stoked racial violence, attacked voting rights, and, if reelected, vowed to be a dictator and, quote, ‘get revenge.’ We can’t go back.”
The hard-hitting ads will run through April 21 across Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – crucial swing states that could decide the 2024 election. The Biden team is also airing them on prominent Black media outlets like NewsOne, Blavity, The Shade Room, and during NCAA basketball tournament games on streaming platforms.
This second ad salvo directly courting Black voters comes after a similar February push during Black History Month that highlighted Biden’s policy achievements benefiting the Black community so far. It’s part of an aggressive effort by the campaign to shore up support among a voting bloc that proved pivotal to Biden’s 2020 victory over Donald Trump.
The former president has mounted his own recent outreach blitz targeting Black Americans, including attending events like the Black Conservative Federation gala, hinting at selecting a Black running mate, and even launching a Trump-branded sneaker line.
But Quentin Fulks, principal Biden campaign deputy manager, dismissed those moves as empty posturing after what he called Trump’s “complete failure” on issues impacting Black lives and livelihoods.
“Black unemployment and uninsured rates spiked, his botched COVID-19 response put our community at risk, and he dismantled rules combating housing bias against Black Americans,” Fulks stated.
He contrasted that with Biden policies yielding a 60% rise in Black household wealth since the pandemic, record-low Black unemployment, and over $137 billion in student debt relief disproportionately aiding Black borrowers.
“The stakes are extremely high for Black America, and unlike Donald Trump, President Biden and Vice President Harris have put in the work,” Fulks said.
However, Biden may face headwinds in rekindling passion, with polling suggesting his Black supporters are less fervently motivated by stopping Trump than deterring Republican policies.