Vice President Kamala Harris has seen an increase in support among Black voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania, as shown by a Suffolk University/USA Today poll. Harris leads former President Trump by significant margins among Black voters in both states, with 70% supporting her in Michigan and 70% in Pennsylvania. This is a significant improvement from earlier polls that showed President Biden leading Trump by smaller margins among Black voters. Harris’ rise to the top of the Democratic ticket has re-energized Black voters in these key swing states, and she is on her way to unifying the Black community to secure the support needed to win states like Michigan and Pennsylvania.
David Paleologos, the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, noted that Harris’ presence at the top of the ticket has caused an immediate increase in support at the expense of all other candidates and categories. While Harris has made progress in recovering lost enthusiasm from the Black community, she still has work to do to secure the margins needed to win states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. Black voters are a critical demographic for Democrats, and Biden’s previous slide among Black voters was a cause for concern for the party. However, Harris’ strong showing in the recent poll indicates that she may be able to secure the support needed to win these critical swing states.
The poll also asked Black voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania if they believed Harris represented them. In Michigan, 61% of Black voters said Harris represents “people like me,” while 27% indicated she did not. In Pennsylvania, 58% of Black voters indicated that Harris represents people like them, while 30% indicated she does not. These results show that Harris has made progress in connecting with Black voters in both states, but there is still work to be done to secure the support needed for victory. The Suffolk University/USA Today poll was conducted between Aug. 11-14 and surveyed 500 Black voters in both states, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
The outcome of the election in Michigan and Pennsylvania is likely to be determined by the support of Black voters, making Harris’ increase in popularity among this demographic crucial for the Democratic ticket. Biden won over Black voters by large margins in both states in 2020, and securing a similar level of support for Harris will be essential for Democrats to secure victory in these swing states. The contrast between Harris’ strong showing in the recent poll and Biden’s earlier slide among Black voters highlights the impact of Harris’ presence at the top of the ticket on energizing the Black community in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Harris’ ability to continue to build support among Black voters will be key for the Democratic ticket to secure victory in these critical swing states.
