Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) addresses the crowd as former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump observes during a campaign rally on January 19 in Concord, N.H. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
June 06, 2024 Story by: Editor
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, a potential vice-presidential candidate for former President Donald Trump, is spearheading a $14 million campaign to attract Black voters to the Republican Party for the 2024 elections.
This initiative targets swing states and focuses on Black and Latino voters who typically do not participate in elections. Scott plans to visit key battleground states, hosting intimate events to directly engage with minority voters and encourage a shift towards the GOP.
The campaign, supported by Scott’s Great Opportunity PAC, plans to allocate $14 million, with $5 million earmarked for media outreach. The primary focus will be on Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, where election outcomes could hinge on slim margins.
An insider revealed the campaign aims to kick off promptly. The Republican National Committee and Trump’s campaign are aware and supportive of the effort, though it is not a directive from the Trump team.
Scott, the Senate’s sole Black Republican, contends that minorities, including Black voters, are increasingly leaning towards the GOP due to dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of the economy, border issues, and crime.
“The reasons for this shift are becoming so obvious that it’s undeniable there’s a problem,” Scott remarked during a press briefing in Washington, D.C. “This shift isn’t solely about race, but it’s manifesting in a way we haven’t seen in decades.”
Highlighting perceived successes under Trump’s presidency, such as forgiving debt for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Scott aims to resonate with working-class Americans, particularly African American men. He emphasizes that Black voters, who often hold faith-based and culturally conservative values, may find their beliefs align more with Republican policies.
Scott plans to bring this message to urban centers like Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Detroit, critical cities in battleground states. He stressed the importance of engaging with communities typically overlooked by Republicans, citing Trump’s recent campaign event in the Bronx, a Democratic stronghold.
“I’ve advocated for years that we need to go where we’re not typically invited,” Scott stated. “We now have candidates willing to do this, and we anticipate seeing positive results.”
This move comes as the Biden campaign faces waning support from Black voters. A New York Times/Siena College poll in May indicated Trump winning over 20% of Black voters in a hypothetical matchup with Biden, compared to about 10% in 2020.
Biden campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika criticized Scott’s efforts, calling it a “last-ditch effort” to defend what she termed Trump’s “racist agenda.”
“President Biden is actively engaging with Black Americans to earn their support. That’s what real leadership looks like,” Chitika stated.
In contrast, Scott believes that Trump’s legal challenges are galvanizing support for the GOP, particularly among Black men who resonate with feelings of systemic injustice.
“I think many African American men, having faced the justice system’s challenges, see Trump’s situation as an injustice, leading them to reconsider the Republican Party,” Scott said.
Trump echoed this sentiment at a Black conservatives’ gathering in South Carolina, suggesting that Black Americans relate to his perceived persecution.
The Great Opportunity PAC views this as a chance to connect with disillusioned voters who feel neglected by the Democratic Party. Jennifer DeCasper, executive director of the PAC, emphasized the importance of showing genuine interest in winning and retaining these voters’ support. Source: CNN
“We aim to enter this space assertively, demonstrating our commitment to the right policies and to valuing their votes,” DeCasper said.
