Joe Biden faces waning support among Philadelphia's black voters

President Joe Biden has continued to receive waning support among black voters, as is evident in recent polling and interviews done by the New York Times. 

A recent Times report revealed that out of nearly two dozen residents interviewed in predominantly black neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, only eight were committed to voting for Biden. Many expressed intentions to either abstain from voting entirely or support former President Donald Trump in the general election.

Voters cited concerns about immigration, rising living costs, and a perception that Biden prioritizes foreign conflicts over domestic issues. 

One individual interviewed, Latasha Humphrey, echoed the belief that Biden has spent too much time focused on issues like Ukraine rather than addressing the needs of Americans in local communities.

“I don't care about what goes on overseas,” Humphrey expressed. “I care about where I live.”

While Biden still holds a lead among Black voters, recent polls indicate an unprecedented shift. CNN poll found Trump currently polling at 22 percent among black voters, a historically high figure for a modern Republican nominee. In the 2020 election, Trump received just 9 percent of the black vote.

Philadelphia City Councilman Isaiah Thomas highlighted the ongoing challenge for Biden's campaign, stating, "It’s going to be easy to convince people not to vote for Trump. It’s going to be hard to convince people to vote for Biden. Those are two totally different fights."

Jasmine Harris, Biden’s Director of Black Media, emphasized that the campaign is actively targeting black voters with the same resources allocated to traditional swing voters. 

“We’ll really see the results of our campaign’s outreach to black voters closer to Election Day,” Harris said.