Obama Urges Black Voters to Support Kamala Harris Amidst Drop in Enthusiasm

Former President Barack Obama took a direct and personal approach while campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh this week, calling on Black voters, especially men, to show the same level of support for Harris that they gave him during his historic presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012. Speaking at an event alongside Pennsylvania Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., Obama addressed what he perceives as a lag in enthusiasm for Harris’s 2024 campaign, particularly among African American voters.

In his remarks, Obama acknowledged the difference in energy compared to his own past campaigns, expressing concern that Harris isn’t receiving the same fervent backing. He highlighted the lack of turnout in key areas of the Black community that had previously supported him.

Obama specifically directed part of his message toward Black men, acknowledging that their reluctance to back Harris seemed “more pronounced” than with other groups. “So if you don’t mind—just for a second, I’ve got to speak to y’all,” Obama said, using a familiar tone as he addressed the group. He emphasized that Harris, who is of Black and South Asian descent, understands the struggles of many in the Black community, noting her shared experiences with education and broader life challenges.

Obama contrasted Harris’s background with that of former President Donald Trump, whom he accused of showing a “disregard” for the Black community. “And you’re thinking about sitting out?” Obama questioned, clearly frustrated by what he sees as a potential voter apathy that could harm Harris’s chances in the upcoming election.

Obama’s comments about Harris’s identity as a Black woman and the challenges she faces were seen by some as an attempt to rally voters through identity politics. He suggested that some Black men might feel uncomfortable with the idea of a female president, urging them to look beyond that hesitation. His remarks were quickly picked up by conservative commentators, who accused him of playing divisive racial politics to salvage Harris’s struggling campaign.

One such critic was conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who tweeted a clip of Obama’s speech, criticizing his appeal to Black voters. “Barack Obama SOUNDS THE ALARM, says energy is down with Black men,” Kirk tweeted, accusing Obama of using Harris’s identity as a means to drum up support.

Barack Obama SOUNDS THE ALARM, says energy is down with black men:

“That seems to be more pronounced with the brothers…”

He then says black men should vote for Kamala because she knows the “struggles” of being black.

Pure identity politics from Obama. pic.twitter.com/LvlSUVZKBx

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 11, 2024

Obama’s effort to boost enthusiasm for Harris also drew backlash from conservative figures in the media. Fox News host Jesse Watters weighed in on his program, showing a clip of Obama’s Pittsburgh speech and suggesting that Harris’s campaign had “plateaued.” Watters said Obama’s remarks were a clear indication that Harris’s popularity, particularly among Black voters, was faltering and that the former president had been brought in to rescue the campaign.

Adding to the criticism was Vernon Jones, a former Democratic politician from Georgia who switched to the Republican Party in 2021. Jones tweeted, “No thanks, BO—Blacks had enough of you and Kamala Harris,” in response to Obama’s comments. He further accused Obama of being dispatched by “White liberals” to sway Black voters, a claim that added fuel to the fire among conservative social media users.

BREAKING NEWS: @BarackObama sent out by White liberals to “Blackman-splain” to get Black men to vote for @KamalaHarris. Wait, his mother and Kamala’s mother are both “WHITE.”

Obama doesn’t even have Black neighbors, and 99% of his handlers are White.

I don’t have anything in… pic.twitter.com/0cb5WEr0hs

— Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) October 11, 2024

Conservative commentator Benny Johnson echoed similar sentiments, calling Obama’s remarks “sickening” and accusing him of trying to manipulate racial divisions to benefit the Harris campaign.

Kamala Harris has faced challenges with certain voter demographics throughout her political career, and Black voters have not been as universally supportive of her as some anticipated. This lack of enthusiasm, especially among men, has raised concerns about how well she will perform in the 2024 election, a point Obama clearly felt the need to address.

Polling data has shown that while Harris does maintain support within the Black community, her approval ratings among Black men are notably lower than among Black women. This trend may explain Obama’s targeted appeal to that specific demographic. His call for Black men to rally behind Harris represents a broader concern within Democratic circles that Harris is not generating the same excitement that other candidates, such as Obama himself, did in previous elections.

While Obama’s Pittsburgh appearance was meant to bolster Harris’s campaign, it remains to be seen whether his message will resonate with the voters he targeted. Conservatives were quick to label his speech as pandering, and some questioned whether bringing Obama back into the spotlight would have any real impact on Harris’s performance, especially among Black voters who remain skeptical of her candidacy.

Kush Desai, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Team Trump, criticized Obama’s campaign stop, calling it a sign of desperation on the part of the Democrats. “While it’ll probably be a slightly less unhinged affair than what other Kamala surrogates are doing, an Obama visit isn’t going to convince Pennsylvanians to vote for another four years of open borders, rising prices, and disaster at home and abroad,” Desai remarked.

As Obama continues his efforts to drum up support for Harris, the question remains: will it be enough to shift the momentum in her favor, or is the VP’s campaign stuck in a rut that even Obama can’t help her overcome? With the election fast approaching, the answer will soon become clear.