PHILADELPHIA — With Donald Trump awaiting the verdict in his criminal trial, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris courted Black voters at a rally in Philadelphia, telling Black voters Trump’s threat is more dangerous the second time around.
Making a rare joint appearance with Harris, Biden laid out that his opponent and predecessor was running a campaign of lies, especially to Black voters, by “trying to make the country forget just how dark and unsettling things were when he was president.”
“Donald Trump is pandering and peddling lies and stereotypes for your votes so he can win for himself, not for you. Well, Donald Trump, I have a message for you. Not in our house. And not in our watch,” Biden said.
The President then went further and ticked off accomplishments he made during his first term, a contrast with Trump and something Democrats have been pushing him to do to solidify support with his key voting bloc.
“Because Black Americans voted, Kamala and I are president and vice president of the United States. Because of you. That’s not hyperbole,” Biden told a crowd gathered at Girard College, a majority Black boarding school for first grade through 12th grade. “Because you voted, Donald Trump is defeated former president. And with your vote — with your vote in 2024, we’re gonna make Donald Trump a loser again.”
Biden touted his accomplishments: a low unemployment rate, lowered costs for prescription drugs and student debt forgiveness — saying how it all has benefited Black voters and the African American community.
“Supreme Court blocked me from relieving student debt, but it didn’t stop me. So far, I’ve relieved student debt for nearly 5 million Americans, a significant number are Black borrowers,” Biden said. “So, you can chase your dreams, start a family, by your first home, start a business and so much more.”
The stop in Philadelphia kicks off a “Black Voters for Biden-Harris,” part of a new push to counter Trump’s efforts to make inroads among the key voting bloc that helped Biden captured the White House in 2020.
Recent polling has shown Biden’s support among Black voters has gone down by double digits from his share of the vote in 2020, with 74% saying they currently back the president compared to 87% who said they voted for him is the last election.
Meanwhile, Trump held a rally in the heavily Black and Brown South Bronx, New York, last week, and has suggested his criminal indictment will help him connect to Black voters — something Biden’s team called “blatantly racist”.
The President hit on that note on Wednesday during his rally.
“Let me ask you: What do you think he would have done on Jan. 6 if Black Americans had stormed it? Think about this. What do you think would’ve happened if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol? I don’t think he’d be talking about pardons,” Biden said.
After the Philadelphia rally, Biden visited a local Black-owned business for an organizing event with the Black Chamber of Commerce. There was also a phone banking event featuring Rep. Barbara Lee.
