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COMMENTARY

Kamala Harris need support of Black voters to rebuild blue wall

Michael Griffie
Contributing columnist

In this moment, I’m reminded of the old political saying, “Democrats fall in love and Republicans fall in line.”  

Less than 100 days before a historic presidential election, now-presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris may have persuaded Democrats to do both at the same time. 

In breathtaking fashion, support for Harris cascaded around the country, seemingly overnight, raising $100 million within the first 48 hours of forming her campaign, and locking down lightning-fast endorsements from the Clintons, key governors, Nancy Pelosi and many others in a show of force. 

The sheer energy that the Harris campaign has created across all walks of life feels historic. The #WinWithBlackWomen call, the night President Joe Biden stepped aside, drew 44,000 callers, raising $1.5 million for Harris. The #WinWithBlackMen call the next day drew 20,000 callers and raised $1.2 million. Less than a week later, a “White Dudes for Harris” call with 190,000 participants raised $4 million

There is no doubt this enthusiasm has caught former President Donald Trump, prepared to run against an aging Biden, flatfooted.

But the question remains, how can Harris turn this unprecedented enthusiasm into 270+ electoral votes on Nov. 5, 2024?

She must rebuild a new version of the blue wall, this time focused on demography, not geography, focusing on winning specific groups of voters — Black people, young voters and college-educated white women — instead of regions.

What's the blue wall?

The "blue wall" is a now-bygone term for the 18 states (and the District of Columbia) that Democrats consistently carried in presidential contests from 1992 to 2012. The blue wall was viewed as an insurmountable obstacle to GOP victory.

Enthusiasm for Harris among Black voters exploded

I’ve written extensively about the role of Black voters in electing Democrats, about how Black voters often navigate the "double consciousness" coined by W.E.B. DuBois — seeing ourselves (and our interests) through the eyes of others.

It’s exhausting. 

This may be the reason that enthusiasm for Kamala Harris among Black voters exploded, once there was no longer a choice of who could be “best positioned” to beat Donald Trump. Black voters didn’t have to make that tortured choice, or worse, have to suck it up to simply protect democracy. This is perhaps why we see unabashed Black joy around the country regarding Harris. 

As vice president, Harris has appeared marginalized at times. Black voters — particularly seniors — can relate to being next in line for that promotion, only to get usurped by a white counterpart. 

These voters, who once held tepid support for a Harris presidency in 2019, are now all-in for the 2024 election. Harris will need every bit of this enthusiasm to turn into votes in November. 

Large Black population centers — Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Detroit — are key to Harris winning battleground states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Black support in Atlanta and Charlotte can potentially permanently expand the electoral map to include Georgia and North Carolina. 

When Harris leans into Black culture, it's not the pandering of Trump. When Migos rapper Quavo introduced her at a rally last week, he said he’s worked with Harris on gun violence prevention and that she “stands on business.”

Black voters feel that sentiment, understand the hidden meaning behind those words, and are drawn to a leader that exemplifies that personification. These voters will be a key foundation to Harris’s new blue wall.   

Young voters are more energized for Harris than Biden

There was no wider enthusiasm gap between Biden and Harris than with young voters. Young voters, including those on college campuses, were checked out on the Biden campaign.  

Harris, a young 59, has now positioned herself as the future, and the new generation of leadership young people have been clamoring for. That enthusiasm must continue to be stewarded and cultivated through November.    

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Harris must lean into issues that Gen Z and young voters are passionate about: student debt, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, climate change and changes in the workplace with rapidly advancing AI technology.  

Simply put, these voters are focused on the future, and the Harris campaign must be, too. 

This, despite the fact that her opponent in Trump will frame this race around the past.  

Harris must push past this, and reciprocate the priorities of an entire generation of young voters. They're the second crucial component to Harris recreating the blue wall. 

White, college-educated women are critical for Harris

Journalist and author Roland Martin told me last week at the National Association of Black Journalists Conference in Chicago, “Kamala Harris cannot win without 40% of the white vote. Biden had 42% [in 2020] and Hillary was at 38% [in 2016].”

It’s clear that most support from white voters will come from white women. White college-educated women, are perhaps, the most critical group to Harris getting to 270 electoral votes.  

In 2016, Donald Trump won white women as a whole by a few percentage points, but among college-educated white women, lost to Clinton. White women helped propel Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and and other Democrats to victory in 2018 and 2022. Winning white college-educated white women will be key to a Harris victory.

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The Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade fundamentally changed the stakes of the 2022 gubernatorial and legislative elections, and now 2024 presidential election — and may deliver the final blow to the patriarchy of male presidency that has been the executive branch since our country’s founding. 

The post-Dobbs reality has created the most real and stark choice in this election for this demographic.  

Harris has proven she is the best messenger to communicate a future on women’s reproductive rights. In fact, Biden had already made her the White House’s point person on the subject, to great effect. Harris needs to continue to lean in on the subject as she courts these voters, as college-educated white women will be the final piece in ensuring a newly created blue wall. 

Harris can shatter the glass ceiling, galvanize Democrats

As great leaders must do, Harris is meeting the moment as she galvanizes the Democratic party.  

Capitalizing on this unprecedented enthusiasm is the only way for her to not just take this enthusiasm to the Oval Office, but to rebuild the blue wall by engaging her base of authentic Black enthusiasm, advancing the real energy of Gen Z and young people and messaging the choice of a post-Dobbs future with white, college-educated women. 

Harnessing what has been a wild summer, and taking the energy of these groups, can permanently shatter the tallest glass ceiling our country has ever known.  

Michael Griffie

Free Press contributing columnist Michael Griffie is an educator, attorney and infrastructure executive. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online or in print.