BTN News: Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the dangers of a potential second term for Donald Trump during her appearance at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Instead of focusing on rising concerns about President Joe Biden’s candidacy, Harris aimed to galvanize Black voters to once again support the Biden-Harris ticket.
Harris declared this election as “probably the most significant of our lifetime,” warning that Trump has openly stated his intention to “be a dictator on day one” if re-elected. Her presence at the annual music and culture event underscored the Biden campaign’s efforts to reignite support from a crucial segment of the electorate that played a key role in Biden’s 2020 victory.
In 2020, Biden triumphed over Trump among Black voters by a significant margin of 87% to 12%, according to CNN polls. However, recent data indicates Trump has been making inroads with this critical voter block. A May survey by The New York Times and Siena College showed that in key battleground states, Trump could capture over 20% of the Black vote in a head-to-head matchup against Biden, a potential historic shift if these numbers hold in November.
Harris urged the festival attendees to turn out in record numbers again, just as they did in 2020. “People voted in record numbers in 2020. This is what can happen, and when everyone votes in those numbers again in 122 days, we can see it happen,” she said.
The White House has recently been addressing concerns about President Biden’s mental fitness and the viability of his campaign following his lackluster performance in a CNN town hall. Some Democrats have called for a reassessment of his re-election bid, while others have suggested he step aside. Nonetheless, Biden has remained resolute, telling reporters in Madison, Wisconsin, that he “absolutely” rules out exiting the race.
Many see Harris as the natural successor should Biden decide not to run. A recent CNN poll indicated that Harris outperforms Biden in a hypothetical race against Trump. Conversely, some Republicans prefer facing Biden, believing Trump’s path back to the White House would be easier against him.
Despite these speculations, Harris has consistently defended Biden. According to CNN, Harris and her team have deliberately ignored most calls and texts regarding Biden’s candidacy, reaffirming her commitment to stand by him.
During the festival, Harris skillfully avoided addressing the internal party concerns about Biden’s re-election, as the moderator did not specifically question her on the topic. Other Biden supporters at the event directly tackled the issue, expressing their unwavering support for the president and asserting he is not stepping down.
Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio argued that Biden shouldn’t quit the race over a single debate performance, stating, “Everyone has a bad day. Don’t go out there turning your back on this president.” California Representative Maxine Waters echoed this sentiment, affirming, “Biden is not going anywhere.”
When asked if she would support Harris if Biden withdrew, Waters replied, “We are focused on Biden. We are focused on the fact that not only has he done a good job, but we foresee that he will continue to do so.”
Many festival attendees expressed confidence in Harris’s readiness to step in if needed. Ultimately, they pledged to support the Democratic candidate in November. Jeri Peris of New Orleans emphasized the importance of sticking with the current plan, saying, “Keep the ticket as it is. Her time will come… Stick with the plan. The plan worked before; it will work again.”
Peris downplayed Biden’s poor debate performance, attributing it to an off day, and praised his presidency. Laura Morgan Roberts from Washington, DC, assured she would vote for Biden, while also expressing full confidence in Harris’s ability and commitment to lead if necessary.
Michelle Buxton from Chattanooga, Tennessee, criticized what she sees as undue scrutiny of Biden, commenting, “It just seems like they are not giving him a chance… We are all here working together, and I think it almost seems personal. I just don’t think they should tear him down.”
