Black conservatives feel momentum at RNC as Biden courts black voters: ‘Like no time before’
MILWAUKEE — On the same day President Biden had multiple black outreach events scheduled, black conservatives gathered not far from the Republican National Convention with a sense of momentum at their backs.
While not a formal part of the RNC programming, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) spoke at a Republican black community center just a few blocks away where the mood was optimistic about the party’s progress at making inroads with the community.
“This time, like no time before, there is a good growth of opportunities here, especially with black men. Black men are definitely attracted to the GOP,” Orland Owens, the chairman of the Milwaukee North Side GOP, told The Post.
Polls have picked up some signs that Republicans appear to be making some gains with black voters while support for Biden cools.
Recent data from Pew Research found that 77% of black voters lean toward Biden while 18% toward former President Donald Trump. For context, Biden nabbed 92%, while Trump got 8% in 2020, per Pew Research.
Other exit polling data pegged Biden beating Trump with black voters in 2020 by 87% to 12%.
Against that backdrop, Biden, 81, trekked to Nevada for multiple events, including an interview with BET’s Ed Gordon, remarks at the NAACP National Convention, and a summit with Rep. Horsford (D-Nev.)
“Donald Trump’s presidency was hell for black America,” Biden declared during his speech at the NAACP.
In the Milwaukee event, voters and activists underscored that a lot of people in the black community don’t feel that way.
“Especially in the black community, I think there’s a lot more openness to talk with the Republicans and look at our ideas,” Erik Ngutse, a community engagement director with the party told The Post.
“A lot of that is due to Biden’s complete incompetence.”
During an Uber ride between events at the convention, a black female driver remarked to The Post that Trump was “living the thug life,” referencing the assassination attempt against him, as well as his rap sheet.
The Wisconsin resident revealed that she voted for Trump in 2020 but is still undecided in the 2024 election.
Owens explained that he was feeling momentum on the ground. While conceding that Republicans are still far off from outright winning a majority of black voters, Owens stressed that the goal is simply “to move the needle” and he feels they’ve made tremendous strides in that direction.
One of the main hurdles dogging Republicans is their reputation with certain blocks of minority voters. Dozens of protesters were spotted outside the RNC Monday with signs calling Republicans racist.
“Frankly, the most conservative people I’ve ever met are black grandmas,” Scott mused during the Black Outreach, Opportunity Zones event in Milwaukee Tuesday.
“And so the question is can you overcome whatever stereotypes have been labeled on the conservative as it relates to communities of color.”
A day prior, Scott took on the issue of race during a well-received address at the RNC.
“America is not a racist country,” Scott exulted during his address at the convention Monday to cheers. “No, we’re not. But if you were looking for racism today, you’d find it in cities run by Democrats.”
Scott had been in the running to be Trump’s vice president, which ultimately went to fellow Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). After, liberal commentator Joy Reid chided that minorities in the MAGA movement “take the humiliation” by sticking with the party.
She has long publicly nagged at Scott and other prominent black conservatives.
“One of the techniques Democrats do always is to fear and boogeyman Republicans like they’re going to put y’all back in chains, right,” Owens said. “Those things are hard to overcome.”
Activists with whom The Post spoke surmised that part of what’s fueling the momentum is issues-driven –that policy fights on immigration, education, and the economy are making Republicans more attractive.
“It’s not that we’ve gotten better. I think we’ve stayed consistent overall,” Ngutse said, noting that he’s heard about immigration “more than I’ve ever seen it in the inner city.”
Sharon Nancy, a volunteer who donned a bright red MAGA hat, was once a Democrat but flipped to Republican about ten years ago.
“Things didn’t make sense. We would always, vote for the same people, the same party. Nothing would ever change,” she explained.
Will Phillips, 20, from Milwaukee whose family is full of Republicans argued that liberals tend to “steer clear of their ideas” on certain hot-button topics right around election time.
He cited the Defund the Police movement and more recent backtracking on the border crisis.
“Once they win the election, the cycle resets, [they start] talking about police again. They start talking about the border,” he added.
