New Rasmussen poll results point to increase in
President Trump’s approval among black voters to 29% from 15% one year
ago. And it would not take a huge shift in black voter sentiment to sway
an election. If the results of this poll, a near doubling of support in one
year, are genuine and sustainable, Democrats have reason to worry.
Although this news may sound surprising, there are valid
reasons for blacks to gravitate toward Trump.
Democratic candidates generally
take black support for granted, but Trump has actually made an effort to
reach out to the black community.
Even Kim Kardashian, although not yet a Trump supporter,
refused to criticize him when Jimmy Kimmel nudged her to do so.
She said, “I
have nothing bad to say about the president. He has done something amazing.”
Kardashian lobbied the president in June on behalf of Alice Johnson,
a “63-year-old Tennessee
woman who was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 on
non-violent drug charges.”
Trump commuted Johnson’s sentence. Say what you will
about Kardashian, but she is an extremely influential American.
Last week, Trump invited pastors of mostly black
congregations to the White House to discuss prison reform. Pastor Darrell Scott
said:
“This
is probably the most pro-active administration regarding urban America and the
faith-based community in my lifetime. This is probably going to be … the most
pro-black president that we’ve had in our lifetime.”
He
compared Trump to his predecessor, Barack Obama, the nation’s first
African-American president, and said:
“This
president actually wants to prove something to our community, our faith-based
community and our ethnic community. The last president didn’t feel like he
had to. He got a pass.”
On the campaign trail in 2016, Trump reached out to
African-Americans.
At a rally in Dimondale, Michigan, he said: “You’re
living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs,
58% of your youth is unemployed — what the hell do you have to lose?”
At the
time, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found
Hillary Clinton beating him among that
demographic 91% to 1%.
Two
of Trump’s earliest supporters were a pair of African-American
women, Lynnette “Diamond” Hardaway and Rochelle “Silk” Richardson, who became almost instant YouTube
stars after
posting their “Stump for Trump” videos early in his campaign.
Trump
soon began touting them at his rallies and even bringing them on stage with him
a few times, cementing their celebrity status.
As Trump continues his efforts to reach out to the
African-American community, his poll numbers will likely solidify and even
increase from here.
Historically low unemployment statistics will certainly
help.
Hopefully, black voters will come to the realization that Democrats
haven’t done much for them and aren’t worthy of their blind support.
And
Democrats can underestimate Trump at their own peril.