Trump Gets a Boost in Crucial Swing States

(BrightPress.org) – A new poll shows former President Donald Trump making significant inroads among black voters in critical swing states. The USA Today/Suffolk University survey indicates that Trump’s support among black voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania has increased to double digits, surpassing his 2020 numbers.

The poll surveyed 500 registered black voters in each state from June 9th to 13th and has a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points. It found that although most black voters still prefer President Joe Biden, Trump’s support has notably risen. In 2020, Trump received less than 10% of the black vote in these states. The recent poll shows about 15% of black voters in Michigan and 11% in Pennsylvania now back Trump.

Trump visited Detroit, a predominantly black city, over the weekend to bolster his support. In the 2020 election, 92% of black voters nationwide supported Biden, according to Pew Research Center. Despite the increase in Trump’s support, many black voters remain opposed to him. Those dissatisfied with Biden are likely to consider third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr or Cornel West. About 15% of voters in both states prefer third-party candidates, while 14% remain undecided.

David Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center, pointed out that for every black voter Trump gains, Biden needs to secure 13 more to maintain his lead. This shift gives Trump a sense of improvement among black voters, according to Paleologos.

However, the poll also reveals that recent legal issues could impact Trump’s support. Sixty-four percent of Michigan voters said his conviction on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments made them less likely to support him. In Pennsylvania, 65% expressed similar sentiments.

As the 2024 election approaches, Trump and Biden’s campaigns are vying for crucial support in battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. In 2020, Biden narrowly won both states. Polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight shows Trump leading Biden by slim margins in these states as of June 16th. Nationally, Trump holds a 1.1% lead over Biden.