By Mona Austin
(TSN): Pres. Joe Biden will make a campaign stop at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church to pander to faith-based voters in the crucial Bible belt state on Monday as Black voter support decreases. Casting its net to a typically loyal part of the Democratic base, the Biden campaign seeks to strengthen its grip on values voters. He will address MAGA extremism as a part of his broader message.
The church is the site where white supremacist Dylan Rooth massacred the pastor and 8 bible study attendees in 2015.
Biden visits Mother Emmanuel AME at a time when his grip on Black voters is loosening.
South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn (@JimClyburnSC1) said in an interview, "I'm 'very concerned" about Biden's standing with Black voters going in to the presidential election.
He said The turning point of the 2020 election for Biden came with a push from Clyburn and the POTUS is known to say Black voters in the state and Black women voters "brought me to the dance." In the Palmetto State 61% of Black voters chose Biden in 2020. Yet, this bloc is no longer prone to vote for a democrat by default, fear or merely by the influence of clergy and politicians appearances at Black churches. These actions have grown stale as voters become more educated about government and politics, frustrated by the overall political climate in America that has marginalized them.
Fear tactics won't work with voters who are turned off by the growing number of pro-life, anti-gay Blacks whose faith factors into their voting practices.
The Black vote is decreasing to the point that a slight shift could be consequential to the re-election of Biden. Many Black voters have voiced concerns about his age, failure to secure voting rights and hyper-liberalism on culture wars.
Vice Pres. Kamala Harris also pandered to Black faith based voters on Jan. 6 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with an introduction by a local AME pastor. She spoke about voting to preserve freedoms such as women's reproductive health and
Engagement with the African American Episcopal denomination gives the Biden campaign exposure to some of Black faith-based voters. The AME is one of the smaller denominations of Black protestants.
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