Media Tip Sheet: Biden Appeals to Black Voters in South Carolina Amidst Growing Concerns


January 29, 2024

voting

President Biden delivered a speech at St. John Baptist Church in South Carolina, emphasizing the role of Black churches and their influence on the promise of a better future. Biden's visit comes amid concerns about his standing amongst Black voters. 

He addressed issues such as the Israel-Gaza conflict, an important consideration for Black pastors, and highlighted his administration's achievements for communities of color. The visit to South Carolina is part of Biden's efforts to maintain and strengthen support among Black voters, crucial for Democratic success in November.

Faculty experts at the George Washington University are available to offer insight and analysis on Biden’s standing with Black voters and how critical the Black vote is to Biden’s campaign. If you would like to speak with an expert, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Tayah Frye at tayah [dot] fryeatgwu [dot] edu (tayah[dot]frye[at]gwu[dot]edu).


Andrew Thompson is an assistant professor of political science at George Washington University. His research studies how racial demographic changes alter political perceptions and democratic commitments. Further, he explores how racial demographic changes motivate stronger support for anti-democratic practices among the American public. He shows that partisan considerations are central to understanding how Americans process information about the changing U.S. demographic landscape, and how supportive they are of anti-democratic policies. 

Jasmine Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at George Washington University. She studies American Politics with a focus on Race, Ethnicity and Politics, political behavior, and representation. Smith’s work examines how Black American’s racial identity shapes political attitudes and behavior, and interactions with political institutions. Her most recent book project, Electability Politics: How and Why Black Americans Vote in Primary Elections asks: How do Black Americans make vote choice decisions in primary elections? 

Domonic A. Bearfield is a professor of public policy for the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University. A well-known scholar of race, gender, and public sector personnel, his work has appeared in many of the field's leading journals. He is currently an editor at Public Administration Review and previously served as the forum editor at Administrative Theory and Praxis. Bearfield is a lead author on numerous articles that delve into race dynamics within public policy and politics, such as The Disenfranchisement of Voters of Color: Redux and The Myth of Bureaucratic Neutrality: Institutionalized Inequity in Local Government Hiring

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