'Screams desperate': Kamala Harris’s attempt to win Black male voters backfires

With just 15 days left forthe U.S. election, Kamala Harris has been focusing intensely on winning over Black male voters. However, her approach has faced criticism, particularly after a recent campaign ad targeting this demographic stirred controversy by taking a dig at Black men’s romantic lives.

The digital ads, which are mainly featured on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, are styled like dating game shows to get younger audiences engaged in voting. In one of the ads, a man is shown approaching a group of women holding balloons. The women start asking him about his height, income, and whether he works out.

When one of the women asks if he has a plan to vote, the man seems positive in his answers, but then says, “Uh, I didn’t plan on it.”

At this point, the women pop their balloons, and a caption flashes on the screen: “Don’t get popped.” The ad continues with a reminder, “Vote, Election Day is November 5,” and notes that it was funded by Harris’ campaign.

Though this ad has appeared around college campuses, it has also drawn ridicule online, with critics pointing out that 65% of the ad spending was aimed at women.

"Wow. I don't know what to say. Screams desperate," commented one user on X. Another person said, “Belittling and insulting.”

One other wrote, “What man would watch this and be persuaded to vote for Kamala Harris?”

Another user said, “Glad I’m not a Black man, because this would make me irrationally furious.”

Harris's uncertainsupport amongBlack voters

This comes at a time when new polls suggest that Black voters, who have historically supported Democratic presidential candidates at over 80% since 1994, might be showing less enthusiasm for the party.

In response, Harris has unveiled policies targeted specifically at Black men, including plans to expand access to the cannabis industry and provide more educational opportunities that could lead to well-paying jobs, even for those without college degrees.

In an earlier comment, former president Barack Obama suggested that Black men who don’t support Harris might be influenced by sexism. He defended Harris, saying, “She knows you” and “went to college with you,” while highlighting her efforts to introduce solutions for affordable housing, healthcare, and promoting small businesses.

Obama went on to say, "And you’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses. Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you're coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that."

(With inputs from agencies)